[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 108 (Monday, June 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32142-32143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13467]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1910

RIN 1218-AC41


Combustible Dust

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of combustible dust Web Chat.

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SUMMARY: OSHA invites interested parties to participate in a Web Chat 
on the workplace hazards of combustible dust. OSHA plans to use the 
information gathered in response to this Web Chat in developing a 
proposed standard for combustible dust.

DATES: The Web Chat will be held on June 28, 2010, at 1 p.m. EDT.

ADDRESSES:

Registration

    Participants are requested to provide their name, affiliation, and 
e-mail address so OSHA can respond to comments or seek clarification.

Web Site

    Participants can access the Web Chat at http://www.dol.gov/dol/chat.htm. The Web Blog will remain accessible for additional feedback 
through July 7, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is 
available from the following sources:
     Press inquiries. Contact Jennifer Ashley, Director, OSHA 
Office of Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-
1999.
     General and technical information regarding Combustible 
Dust. Contact Mat Chibbaro, P.E., Fire Protection Engineer, Office of 
Safety Systems, OSHA Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Room N-
3609, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2255.
     Technical information regarding Web Chat logistics and 
electronic access. Contact Andy Bailey, DOL Web Content Manager, Office 
of Public Affairs, Division of Enterprise Communications, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210; telephone: (202) 693-5946.
     Copies of this Federal Register notice. Electronic copies 
are available at http://www.regulations.gov. This

[[Page 32143]]

Federal Register notice, as well as news releases and other relevant 
information, also are available on the OSHA Web page at http://www.osha.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The hazards of combustible dust encompass a wide array of 
materials, industries, and processes. Any combustible material can burn 
rapidly when in a finely divided form. Materials that may form 
combustible dust include, but are not limited to, wood, coal, plastics, 
biosolids, candy, sugar, spice, starch, flour, feed, grain, fertilizer, 
tobacco, paper, soap, rubber, drugs, dried blood, dyes, certain 
textiles, and metals (such as aluminum and magnesium). Industries that 
may have combustible dust hazards include, among others: animal food 
manufacturing, grain handling, food manufacturing, wood product 
manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, textile manufacturing, furniture 
manufacturing, metal processing, fabricated metal products and 
machinery manufacturing, pesticide manufacturing, pharmaceutical 
manufacturing, tire manufacturing, production of rubber and plastics, 
plastics and rubber products manufacturing, recycling, wastewater 
treatment, and coal handling.
    OSHA is developing a standard that will comprehensively address the 
fire and explosion hazards of combustible dust. The Agency issued an 
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that requested comments, 
including data and other information, on issues related to the hazards 
of combustible dust in the workplace. (74 FR 54334, Oct. 21, 2009). 
OSHA plans to use the information received in response to the ANPR, at 
the stakeholder meetings, and during the Web Chat in developing a 
proposed standard for combustible dust.

II. Web Chat and Stakeholder Meetings

    OSHA conducted stakeholder meetings in Washington, DC, on December 
14, 2009; in Atlanta, GA, on February 17, 2010; and in Chicago, IL, on 
April 21, 2010. This notice announces a Web Chat to gather additional 
information beyond that provided in the stakeholder meetings. OSHA will 
pose questions and interact with participants for one hour, beginning 
at 1 p.m. EDT on June 28, 2010. In addition to the live Web Chat, OSHA 
will also post additional information on the Department of Labor Blog, 
http://www.dol.gov/dol/chat.htm. and invites the public to provide 
feedback via comments on these entries. The Web Blog will remain 
accessible through July 7, 2010. OSHA will monitor the site, provide 
additional information, and pose additional questions when appropriate.
    OSHA will introduce areas to which participants should focus their 
views, concerns, and issues related to the hazards of combustible dust. 
The Web Chat will center on major issues such as:
     Scope.
     Balance between performance and specification based 
requirements.
     Economic impacts.
     Definitions.

III. Public Participation

    To register, follow the instructions provided on the Web site. 
Participants are asked to provide the following information so that 
OSHA can solicit clarification of comments, if necessary:
     Name.
     E-mail address.
     Organization being represented.
     Stakeholder category: government, industry, standards-
developing organization, research or testing agency, union, trade 
association, insurance, fire protection equipment manufacturer, 
consultant, or other (if other, please specify).
     Industry sector (if applicable): metals, wood products, 
grain or wet corn milling, food (including sugar), pharmaceutical or 
chemical manufacturing, paper products, rubber or plastics, coal, or 
other (if other, please specify).

Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the direction of David Michaels, 
PhD, MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and 
Health, U.S. Department of Labor, pursuant to sections 4, 6, and 8 of 
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 
657), 29 CFR part 1911, and Secretary's Order 5-2007 (72 FR 31160).

    Signed at Washington, DC, on June 1, 2010.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2010-13467 Filed 6-4-10; 8:45 am]
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