The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is considering rulemaking to develop a combustible dust standard for general industry. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) completed a study of combustible dust hazards in late 2006, which identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured 718. The CSB also recommended the Agency pursue rulemaking on this issue.

OSHA has published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin, Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions, and has implemented a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP). OSHA will also use information gathered from the NEP as the agency considers future rulemaking.

OSHA says the next step for combustible dust is to initiate the SBREFA panel review, something they hope to accomplish in December, 2011.

When an OSHA proposal is expected to have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities, the agency must notify the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy. The Office of Advocacy then recommends small entity representatives to be consulted on the rule and its effects. OSHA next convenes a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel, consisting of officials from the agency, the SBA's Chief Counsel for Advocacy, and the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The panel hears comments from small entity representatives and reviews the draft proposed rule and related analyses prepared by OSHA. A written report of this interagency panel is submitted to OSHA within 60 days. OSHA reviews the report, makes any appropriate revisions to the rule and publishes the proposed rule along with the panel’s report in the Federal Register.

More information is available at the OSHA website. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has investigation outcomes and other information related to combustible dust here.