Combustible Dust: Threat to Emergency Responders

PR Log (Press Release) – Dec 16, 2008 – (Houston,Texas) BlogTalkRadio host Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Friday evening 9:00PM PST, December 19, 2008   with John Astad and Bob LaPlante ,General Manager at United Training Specialists on Combustible Dust Hazards http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement  that are unknowingly present when emergency responders respond to combustible dust related fires and explosions in the manufacturing, non-manufacturing, utility sectors.

Bob LaPlante  has 29 years of power plant experience in Engineering, Fire Protection and Emergency Response Planning. Bob is currently  developing a new curriculum for Combustible Dust Fire and Explosions. http://unitedtrainingspecialists.com/ His responsibility have included developing emergency response plans for power generating plants with regards to meeting OSHA, NFPA and DHS regulations and standards; and, developing emergency response power plant training, facility pre-plans, standard operating procedures and fire protection equipment maintenance and training programs for plant Emergency Response Team members. Bob LaPlante is a member of the NFPA, Edison Electric Institute’s Fire Committee, International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and the Arizona Fire Training Association.

In the past, fire-fighter fatalities and injuries have occurred when responding to these incidents. These occurrences could have been prevented if responders understood the hidden and unknown dangers of combustible dust found throughout the diverse multitude of manufacturing facilities.

John Astad is Director and Research Analyst of the Combustible Dust Policy Institute. At the Institute, John tracks and researches combustible dust related fires and explosions seeking effective policy-making solutions on occupational health and safety. As the result of John’s recent work he was a research consultant for the CBS 60 Minutes segment, “Is Enough Done to Stop Explosive Dust” following the catastrophic Imperial Sugar Refinery dust explosion, which the Chemical Safety Board is still investigating.

Additionally, John collects business intelligence data utilized by a myriad of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in developing cost effective strategies in assessing risk concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace. John Astad holds a bachelor of science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Business and Public Administration with a major in Environmental Management. Currently John is on the Advisory Committee for the 4th Annual Industrial Fire, Safety, and Security conference (IFSS 2009) where he is also chairperson of the Combustible Dust Hazard Workshop. http://www.ifssevent.com/index.asp

Currently a situational awareness is lacking nationwide that combustible dust also poses a potential explosive atmosphere in the same light as flammable gases, vapors, and mists. Instead of vapor cloud or BLEVE explosions that occur in the refining sector there are deflagrations and dust explosions in the manufacturing sector.

Listeners can call in live Friday evening toward the end of the show by dialing the Call-in Number: (646) 378-1513.