Purdue report: Grain dust explosions flat in 2023
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An annual report by a Purdue University professor noted nine grain dust explosions last year in the United States, an amount about equal to the 10-year average.
The nine incidents resulted in 12 injuries but no fatalities, according to a report by Kingsly Ambrose, professor of agricultural and biological engineering.
Although the 10-year average of 8.4 explosions remains lower than the average prior to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration grain handling standard implemented in 1988, the accidents are avoidable, Ambrose said.
“There is a critical need to educate the workers and employers on dust explosion prevention within a facility, including assessments of dust accumulation and dust explosion protection methods,” Ambrose said.
The 2023 explosions occurred in four different states: three each in Illinois and Minnesota, two in Iowa, and one in Indiana, a September incident at a corn-cob processing facility in Delphi.
The other explosions occurred in one ethanol plant, one wheat mill, two grain elevators, two soybean processing plants, and two corn processing plants, the news release said.
Fire and an equipment malfunction were cited as the likely ignition sources in two cases. The source in the other six cases was unknown.
Purdue has been collecting data related to grain dust explosions in the U.S. since 2015.