Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Sadie Dickman, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Sadie Dickman
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Aviation
Faculty Mentor Name
Ali Aljaroudi
Abstract
This project entails an extensive analysis of the occupational combustible dust hazard that exists in industrial refineries, including food processing, manufacturing, and metalworking facilities. Based on prior accidents like the 2008 Imperial Sugar and 2017 Didion Milling explosions, combustible dust causes fire and explosion risks that can result in damages, injuries, and fatalities. Through comparison of OSHA regulations, NFPA standards, and accident data, a lack of effective standards regarding training, audits, ventilation, fire prevention, and adequate housekeeping measures were highlighted to be an existing safety gap. The purpose of this study is to propose administrative controls to mandate companies to follow strict standards, including increased housekeeping measures, training programs, improved ventilation systems, routine dust concentration testing, improved fire protection, and both internal and third-party audits. The intended outcome is reducing the likelihood and severity of combustible dust explosions. This project was developed based on the four SMS principles, which assisted in adapting operational practices required in current OSHA regulations and how they apply to combustible dust management. It also entails the development of a Project Specification Outline (PSO) and Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) for the determination of risk rankings before and after implementation. The expected outcome is a reduction in risk ranking from 3.76*10^(-2) to about 7.5*10^(-3), making the explosion likelihood decrease from a “probable event” to a “rare event." Other results present a determination of an ROI of 4.27%, which provides savings of $874,639 after a program implementation cost of $204,718. The implementation of administrative controls aligns with elements of Safety Risk Management (SRM) as the risks of explosion are reduced. This project shows that a stronger, SMS-based administrative control will significantly reduce combustible dust explosion risk while simultaneously preventing serious injuries, fatalities, and major industry losses.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Innovative Controls for Combustible Particulate Dust in Industrial Refineries
This project entails an extensive analysis of the occupational combustible dust hazard that exists in industrial refineries, including food processing, manufacturing, and metalworking facilities. Based on prior accidents like the 2008 Imperial Sugar and 2017 Didion Milling explosions, combustible dust causes fire and explosion risks that can result in damages, injuries, and fatalities. Through comparison of OSHA regulations, NFPA standards, and accident data, a lack of effective standards regarding training, audits, ventilation, fire prevention, and adequate housekeeping measures were highlighted to be an existing safety gap. The purpose of this study is to propose administrative controls to mandate companies to follow strict standards, including increased housekeeping measures, training programs, improved ventilation systems, routine dust concentration testing, improved fire protection, and both internal and third-party audits. The intended outcome is reducing the likelihood and severity of combustible dust explosions. This project was developed based on the four SMS principles, which assisted in adapting operational practices required in current OSHA regulations and how they apply to combustible dust management. It also entails the development of a Project Specification Outline (PSO) and Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) for the determination of risk rankings before and after implementation. The expected outcome is a reduction in risk ranking from 3.76*10^(-2) to about 7.5*10^(-3), making the explosion likelihood decrease from a “probable event” to a “rare event." Other results present a determination of an ROI of 4.27%, which provides savings of $874,639 after a program implementation cost of $204,718. The implementation of administrative controls aligns with elements of Safety Risk Management (SRM) as the risks of explosion are reduced. This project shows that a stronger, SMS-based administrative control will significantly reduce combustible dust explosion risk while simultaneously preventing serious injuries, fatalities, and major industry losses.