There are many NFPA standards for combustible dust designed to prevent dust fires and combustible dust explosions. Companies may be familiar with housekeeping guidelines and engineering controls, but what employees are wearing on their feet can pose a risk for a combustible dust incident depending on which dust they’re encountering at the facility.
Clothing such as steel toe boots, belt buckles, watches, or even metal buttons can cause a spark when the wearer moves around. If the facility is full of combustible dust hazards that little spark can ignite the dust cloud, leading to a devastating combustible dust explosion.
Here is some basic guidance from NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals. It requires:
NFPA 484 (Combustible Metals) requires:
• Static dissipative shoes for Aluminum, Niobium, Tantalum
• Non-sparking shoes for Titanium and Zirconium
• No exposed metal on shoes for Magnesium
• Evaluate need for static dissipative shoes for metals not specifically covered in NFPA 484
• No exposed metal on shoes
• “Appropriate for the type of operation”
• Clothing requirements vary – generally flame retardant but may also require non-static generating for Aluminum and “metals not specifically covered”
