Ensure Your Facility Meets Final EPA New Source Performance Standards for CISWI Units
On February 7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule (78 FR 9112) amending the new source performance standards for commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units. This action sets forth the agency’s final decision on a number of issues for which it granted reconsideration of the final rule titled “Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units” (CISWI rule) that was issued in March 2011. The final rule establishes effective dates for the standards and makes various technical corrections to clarify definitions, references, applicability, and compliance issues.
Combustible Dust: A Deadly Fuel
Fires triggered by combustible dust are even more dangerous than other fires, because they often take the form of a flash fire, which moves so quickly it’s impossible to outrun. OSHA has issued a new resource designed to protect emergency workers at combustible dust fires. The informative booklet “Firefighting Precautions at Facilities with Combustible Dust” outlines safe procedures for emergency responders who may face fires and explosions caused by combustible dust. The publication describes how combustible dust explosions occur and uses previous incidents to illustrate how firefighting operations can prevent combustible dust explosions. It also explains the preparations emergency responders can make before a response and how these preparations will affect the operational plan during a response.
Combustible dusts include fine particles, fibers, chips, chunks, or flakes that under certain conditions can cause a fire or explosion when suspended in air. Types of dusts may include metal (for example, aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic, rubber, coal, flour, sugar, and paper. OSHA’s Combustible Dust webpage, provides employers and workers with additional information and resources for preventing and minimizing the effects of combustible dust fires and explosions. According to OSHA, since 1980, more than 130 workers have been killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions.
STP has recently issued an update to Federal Regulatory Training Requirements Compliance Guide and also publishes the following guides: