Managing dust and fire explosion risk

Managing dust and fire explosion risk

Friday 13 Jun 2025

While fire is an obvious hazard in wood processing plants, a less obvious hazard is a dust explosion. Sawdust created throughout the milling process, is not explosive on its own, but under the right conditions wood dust can cause flash fires that, if contained within a full or partial enclosure, can produce an explosion due to the pressure build up.

Fire and explosion can result in catastrophic consequences, causing significant injury or death to workers and others, as well as considerable damage to property and loss of ability to operate.

The Dust Fire and Explosion Guidance Document has been produced by the Workplace Health and Safety Subcommittee (WHSS) – a subcommittee of the Softwood Manufacturing Chamber of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA). The Guide, together with the companion risk assessment tool is designed to assist anyone in the timber industry operating a manufacturing site to readily identify and manage wood dust fire and explosion risk.

Read the document here – Managing Dust And Fire Explosion risk. Download the risk assessment here – Sample Combustible Dust Risk Assessment

Source: AFPA

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