Many organic and metal dusts can ignite or explode when dispersed in air, including wood, flour, sugar, plastic, and aluminium. The risk rises indoors, during conveying, bag tipping, sanding, or aggressive cleaning. Injuries often occur far from the task when dust migrates and accumulates unnoticed.

Recognise and reduce the fuel

• Design out dust creation. Use enclosed processes, slower feeds, and tool extraction with effective shrouds.
• Prevent layers forming: set scheduled housekeeping using anti-static industrial vacuums; avoid sweeping and compressed air.
• Store and handle waste in sealed, conductive containers and remove it frequently.

Control dispersion and confinement

• Partition high-dust tasks and create airflow from clean to dirty zones. Negative air can help contain migration.
• Use LEV with conductive ducting and maintain it. Verify capture with smoke or tracer testing.

Eliminate ignition sources

• Control hot work with permits. Manage static via bonding and earthing of plant, vacuums, and containers.
• Keep electrical equipment suitable for the environment and maintain grounding continuity.
• Select non-sparking accessories where appropriate and avoid metal-to-metal impacts in dusty zones.

Checks, maintenance, and training

• Under DSEAR/COSHH, assess combustible dust risks, document controls, and train staff.
• Inspect filters, seals, and earthing straps routinely; degraded components raise both dust and ignition risk.
• Background filtration from an air scrubber can reduce settled dust; anti-static vacuums in the MAXVAC range are widely used for housekeeping on UK sites.

Keep fuels minimal, prevent clouds, and remove ignition sources. With disciplined housekeeping, competent LEV, and verified containment, you can make combustible dust incidents highly unlikely.