Risk Assessment and Safety Audits

A dust explosion risk assessment aims at determining the risks prevailing in industrial processes based on the likelihood of dust explosions occurring and their potential consequences for both employees and the industrial facilities. A dust explosion risk assessment is performed on the basis of detailed knowledge of the actual industrial facilities, the processes ongoing in these facilities and the (explosion) properties of the products being handled.  GexCon has developed systematic methods to perform dust explosion risk assessments effectively and thoroughly. The likelihood of explosions is assessed on the basis of a very long experience and available statistical data. Sometimes advanced modelling techniques are used to estimate the severity of a potential explosion. If risk levels appear unacceptably high, cost-effective measures are suggested to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

Within the European Union and the European Economic Area (including Norway) employers are obliged to perform a risk assessment to protect personnel working in areas with potential explosion hazards. The minimum requirements have been set in the ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC. In Norway the Directive has been transposed into national law in the regulation "Helse og Sikkerhet i Eksplosjonsfarlige Atmosfærer".

The following subjects are typical as part of a risk assessment:

• Performance of hazardous area classification
• Interpretation of test data (dust explosion properties)
• Estimation of the probability of occurrence of explosive dust atmospheres
• Estimation of the probability of presence of incendive ignition sources
• Estimation of the likelihood of a dust explosion
• Prediction of explosion loads (sometimes using advanced CFD tools)
• Estimates of structural damage
• Suggestions for preventive measures including organisational routines
• Proposal for protection systems

All work is performed in accordance to the latest European Directives and Standards. Explosion properties of explosive dusts involved can be determined at GexCons Dust Explosion Test Laboratory.

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