Dust Explosion Incident Analysis, Prevention and Control

16^th April 2014, an explosion happened in one chemical plant in China which was caused by stearic acid dust, the incident caused 8 death and 9 injuries. On the day of the incident happened, No.1 stearic acid granulator tower is in normal operation. When welding on the cone of tower bottom, material was not discharged from the tower and the tower was in operation. A stearic acid dust explosion was triggered in the system, and caused series of explosion; the workshop was caught on fire and finally collapsed. This article reviews the process how the incident happened. The immediate cause from the analysis was: welding at the cone of tower bottom in normal operation status without material withdrawn caused the stearic acid dust explosion. Work violating procedure, MOC process not implemented, not design, constructed and installed following requirements, deficiency knowledge of stearic acid dust combustion and explosion was the indirect cause. This article raised specific prevention and control recommendations to dust explosion based on above analysis, including reinforcement of safety management during operation, MOC, technical management of chemical plants and safety management of combustible organic dust in work place.