Combustible dust has been linked to at least six deaths at factories this year, five of them in separate accidents at a Tennessee plant that makes metal powders for automotive and industrial uses. Another worker was seriously injured by a fireball that investigators blame on an accumulation of iron dust at the same Hoeganaes Corp. plant in Gallatin, Tenn. "The science of explosion control is pretty simple. It's not rocket science," said retired University of Michigan Professor of Aeronautical Engineering Bill Kauffman. "If you can see your footprint or can write your name on the wall, it's going to explode." These industrial sites are regulated separately from grain handling facilities like the one that exploded last month in Kansas, also killing six. While that tragedy served as a reminder of the dangers for grain industry workers, experts say there are even fewer protections for their 2.5 million counterparts around the country in other industries susceptible to dust explosions. Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/14/3265277/rules-lag-as-factory-dust-explos...
