Combustible dust can be a significant industrial hazard that can lead to fires and explosions resulting in employee deaths and injuries as well as the destruction of property. Coal is one of several materials that can form combustible dust. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program in 2007 and is now developing a new standard for combustible dust. Recognizing the hazard, we developed our own detailed manual for handling combustible coal dust and are working with OSHA to be sure that our policy and procedures align.

OSHA published its new crane and derrick standard for construction in 2010. We use this equipment every day and in anticipation of regulation, we established a new lifting and rigging policy. The additional requirements for operator certification and the subsequent programs that will be implemented to help with recertification are new with the standard.

The Edison Electric Institute has asked OSHA to reconsider the inclusion of the digger/derrick vehicle and provide an exemption. Training and qualification requirements for this equipment already have been established in the maintenance standard for our industry and several states already have training requirements for crane operators in place. We are working with EEI to seek this exemption.