Dust Explosions, With Special Reference to Woodworking Industries

Abstract

Abstract Explosions in flour mills have been common, but now the hazard is recognized in grain elevators, starch factories, sugar refineries, woodworking plants, textile mills, and other factories in which materials in the form of dust are manufactured. The woodworking industry is considered susceptible to this danger, especially since there is created a great quantity of dust from saws, planers, and sanders, and the recent manufacture of wood flour. More than thirty explosions in woodworking plants have been investigated. These indicate that wood dust is more easily ignited than some of the grain dusts. Precautionary measures are suggested, and regulations have been tentatively adopted for the prevention of dust explosions in wood-flour manufacturing establishments.