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OSHA's hazard formula information regulations for flammable dust

Posted Date:2024/11/6

The following is intended to provide information to facilitate the identification of hazards that, while not leading to classification, may need to be assessed and publicized.

Notice of the danger of "flammable dust" in the new US GHS standard:

Flammable dust: fine solid particles of a substance or mixture that diffuse in air or other oxidizing media and are prone to fire or explosion under ignition conditions.

Many elements of publicity have not been standardized in the unified system. Some of these obviously need to be publicized for downstream users to know. Authorities may also request additional information, and suppliers may choose to add additional information on their own initiative.

If a product is determined to be hazardous, including in downstream processes, each producer or seller shall produce and provide appropriate information to downstream users, in the form of safety data sheets (SDS) or another format, as appropriate, alerting users to hazards and risks.

For substances, mixtures or solid materials, at least information on flammable dusts should be provided in sections 2, 5, 7 and 9 of the safety data sheet. Annex 4 to the UN GHS provides further guidance on the sections of the safety data sheet.

For example, section 2 deals with hazards that do not lead to classification, section 5 covers requirements for fire suppression, section 7 provides guidance on safe handling practices, and section 9 describes the physical and chemical properties of substances, mixtures, or solid materials.

In order to indicate flammable dust hazards in a standard manner in accordance with the methods described in this Annex, thereby indicating potential dust explosion risks, the competent authority may require the use of the following phrases on labels, safety data sheets and/or instruction manuals, or leave it to the discretion of the manufacturer or supplier:

If a substance or mixture is identified as a flammable dust according to the UN GHS: "If diffused, it is likely to form an explosive dust-air mixture"; or

(b) If a substance, mixture or solid material is identified in accordance with the UN GHS as likely to cause flammable dust during further processing: "An explosive dust-air mixture may be formed if small particles are generated during further processing, handling or otherwise";

(c) In addition, the word "warning" may be used in conjunction with subparagraph (a) or (b).