June 2023 is the 22nd national"Safe Production Month". Guanghzou Lihui Environmental Technoligical Company launched a meeting of "Safe Production of Dust Explosion Accident Case" for several woodworking manufacturers. In recent years, industrial dust explosions have ocurred frequently, which has arounsed people's attention to industrial safety. Dust explosions are a common but dangerous phenomenon that can occur in many industries and pose a serious threat to personel and equipment. In order to improve the public's safety awareness and understanding we will populariz the knowleage about dust explosion.

What is dust explosion?

Dust explosion refers to the phenomenon that when combusible dust meets oxygen under certain conditions, it is triggerd y a fire source or an electirc arc, resulting in a violent reaction and the release of huge energy. This kind of explosion will not only cause equipment damage and production interruption, but also pose a serious threat to personnel safety and the environment.

Which industries are prone to dust explosions?

The risk of dust explosions exists in many industries, especially those handling combustible substances. For example, wood processing, grain processing, chemical pharmaceuticals, metal processing and other industries will generate a lot of fine dust in the production process. If this dust is not properly disposed of, it can create a potential explosion hazard.

What are the causes of dust explosions?

Dust explosions generally requie 3 elements:combusible dust, oxygen and an ignition source. Only when these elements exist at the same time, and the dust concentration is within the flammable range, can an explosion be possible. Improper workplace cleaning, poor equipment maintenance and improper operation can all lead to dust accumulation and increase the risk of explosion.

Since 2010, several large dust explosion accidents have occurred in my country, causing heavy casualties and property losses.

- On February 24, 2010, a starch dust explosion accident occurred in Qinhuangdao Lihua Starch Factory, resulting in 21 deaths, 47 injuries, and a direct economic loss of 17.3 million;

-On August 12, 2014, an aluminum alloy dust explosion accident occurred in Kunshan Zhongrong Metal Products Co., Ltd., killing 146 people and injuring 114. Direct economic loss of 351 million yuan;

-On June 27, 2015, a dust explosion accident occurred in the last 5 minutes of holding a color party at the Baxian Water Park stage in Bali, New Taipei City, Taiwan, causing more than 500 injuries and 12 deaths;

- On April 29, 2016, an aluminum dust explosion occurred in the Jingyixing Hardware Processing Factory in Guangming New District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, killing 4 people and injuring 6 people, including 5 people with severe burns;

- On January 27, 2022, a dust explosion accident occurred in Jining Baishida Wood Industry Co., Ltd. in Liangshan Economic Development Zone, resulting in 1 death, 17 injuries, and a direct economic loss of about 7.2 million yuan.

According to incomplete statistics from the Industrial Explosion and Protection Institute of Northeastern University:

• From 2005 to 2015, there were 72 dust explosion accidents in my country, with 262 deaths and 634 injuries;
• The main industries where dust explosion accidents occur are: metal processing (aluminum-magnesium product grinding and polishing), wood processing, chemical industry (including silicon, sulfur), food and feed, metal powder, etc.;
• The main dust is: metal, wood, food, silicon powder, chemicals, coal powder, etc.
• The main provinces where dust explosions occurred are: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shandong, Shanghai, Hebei, Jiangxi, Annex, etc.

How to prevent dust explosion?

Prevention of dust explosions requires comprehensive measures and systems. First of all, clean up the workplace regularly, remove dust accumulation in time, and keep it clean. Secondly, use explosion-proof electrical equipment, professional industrial dust removal equipment, and take explosion protection measures, such as installing explosion isolators and explosion-proof covers. In addition, employee training and awareness raising are also crucial to ensure they understand the hazards of dust explosions and the corresponding safety measures.

What are the lessons from dust explosion accidents?

Past dust explosion accidents have sounded the alarm for us, emphasizing the importance of industrial safety. These accidents not only caused huge losses to human life and property, but also had an irreversible impact on the environment. Therefore, industrial enterprises should attach great importance to dust handling and fire safety measures, strengthen training and awareness promotion, and ensure workplace safety.

Summary: Dust explosion is a serious industrial safety hazard that needs to be highly concerned by the public. Through scientific preventive measures, compliant equipment use and training, we can minimize the risk of dust explosion and ensure safe and stable operation of the workplace.