Combustible Dust Compliance: Essential Safety Guide Combustible dust is one of the most underestimated hazards in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial processing facilities — and the incident record is unambiguous about the consequences. According to CSB data, 281 combustible dust incidents occurred between 1980 and 2005, causing 119 fatalities and 718 injuries. By 2008, that total had climbed to 363 documented incidents.

The operational fallout extends beyond casualties. OSHA's Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program recorded 2,553 inspections and 3,389 violations between FY2013 and FY2017 alone. Facilities that trigger OSHA enforcement under the General Duty Clause face citations, potential shutdowns, and the kind of insurance exposure that no risk manager wants to explain.

Combustible dust incident statistics from 1980 to 2017 OSHA violations data

What makes this hazard particularly dangerous is how routine it looks. Sugar, flour, starch, protein powders, and pharmaceutical excipients