Dust Explosions in the Pulp and Paper Industry, 2005 Engineering, Pulping & Environmental Conference
Recent catastrophic dust explosions have caused an increased focus on dust hazards by government agencies such as the U.S. Chemical Safety Hazard and Investigation Board (CSB). Investigation of these explosions has revealed that many facilities, inspectors, and enforcement agencies have limited knowledge of dust explosion hazards. Materials present in the pulp and paper industry, including wood and paper dust, can represent significant dust explosion hazards. This paper describes the history of dust explosions in the pulp and paper industry, reviews existing regulations, standards, and practices for the prevention and mitigation of dust explosions, and discusses increased regulatory and enforcement efforts that may occur.