APPLICATION OF THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS FOR RISK REDUCTION OF DUST EXPLOSIONS IN A TAPIOCA STARCH FACTORY IN UBON RATCHATHANI, THAILAND
The Hierarchy of Controls for risk reduction of dust explosions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55766/sujst7963Keywords:
Dust Explosion, Hierarchy of Controls, Risk Assessment MatrixAbstract
Dust explosions pose a significant risk across various industries worldwide, leading to injuries, fatalities, property damage, and environmental consequences. Accurate risk assessment techniques are essential for identifying hazards and implementing preventive measures to mitigate the risk of dust explosions. This research and development study aims to evaluate dust explosion risks using the Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM) to identify and prioritize hazards, and controls were applied using the Hierarchy of Controls which prioritizes risk reduction strategies from elimination to personal protective equipment. Data were collected from a tapioca starch factory in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, between June 2023 and March 2024. The RAM assessment indicated a very high risk (level 4) of dust explosions. Key contributing factors included the presence of combustible dust, oxygen, confinement, dust dispersion, and ignition sources. Notably, the primary ignition risks were associated with human error (violations of safety procedures) and mechanical failure (bolts, nuts, and bearing malfunction). Risk mitigation measures were developed and implemented based on the Hierarchy of Controls. Following the intervention, the overall risk was reduced by 52.71%. Elimination and engineering controls were more effective in preventing dust explosions than administrative controls. These findings suggest that integrating RAM with the Hierarchy of Controls provides a practical and reliable approach to reducing explosion risks and enhancing safety in dust prone industrial environments.
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