Combustible dust hazards sit under DSEAR. PM sensors cannot tell you explosion likelihood or Minimum Explosible Concentration, but they are useful early-warning tools for dust cloud events and poor housekeeping. Treat them as part of your monitoring strategy, not a standalone protection layer.

If you're concerned you have a potentially combustible environment, we highly suggest completing a DSEAR risk assessment. We recommend Qualitek Safety Ltd or  Orbis Environmental & Safety Consulting Just let them know that Dust Arrest referred you.

Where PM monitoring helps

• Trending: detect rising background particulate that hints at leaks, process upsets, or ineffective capture.
• Task alarms: flag short spikes during tipping, bagging, or silo filling so you can pause and adjust controls.
• Verification: confirm that LEV, air scrubbers, and negative air machines are reducing airborne particulate after adjustments.

Set sensible triggers

• Define housekeeping thresholds well below any hazardous build-up: if PM and coarse counts climb during clean-down, stop dry methods and switch to industrial vacuuming.
• Use area and personal monitors to separate general atmosphere from task exposure.
• Record exceedances, the root cause, and the fix as part of your DSEAR risk review.

Placement and equipment cautions

• Place sensors at breathing height, near transfer points and along airflow paths, but outside direct discharge.
• Do not mount non-rated electronics in zoned areas; choose appropriately rated kit or monitor from safe zones with ducted sampling.
• Avoid recirculating contaminated air: use H13/H14 filtration on control equipment handling fine combustible dusts.

Link monitoring to controls

• Source: improve capture hoods, covers, and fill rates; reduce drop heights.
• Air: use air movers and scrubbers to direct flow away from ignition sources and people.
• Surfaces: only vacuum with antistatic, spark-safe accessories; avoid sweeping and compressed air.

PM sensors show when and where dust becomes airborne so you can act quickly—reduce generation, improve capture, and clean safely. They complement, but never replace, DSEAR classification, ignition control, and explosion protection design.