Combustible dust explosions hazards are prevalent in various industries, such as agricultural grain, food, chemicals, fertilizers, tobacco and pesticides.

The National Safety Council defines dust as “solid particles derived from crushing, grinding, rapid impact and detonation of organic and inorganic materials”. Dust originates from operations of dry and powdery materials such as conveying, trimming and so forth. Grain dust is highly combustible, even higher than coal dust.
Explosive dust clouds can be easily formed by the dispersion of layers of deposited flammable dust. The generation and accumulation of combustible dustin grain facilities creates immediate danger and possesses immediate danger to human life. Alongside vapour cloud explosions, dust explosions pose the most danger in the process industry.

Combustible grain dust is composed of fine particles that pose explosion hazards when accumulated in the air under certain conditions. Most explosion incidents resulted in the employer’s or employee’s lack of awareness. In most cases dust explosions occur at grain transfer points such as bucket elevators, enclosed conveyors and so forth. Mechanical or electrical devices can become an ignition source which are usually a hot surface or sparks. Energy requirements to ignite dust clouds are small. The dust, if ignited, can cause secondary explosions, due to turbulent air generated in the adjacent buildings, areas or equipment, which is more likely fatal and destructively.