The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-10
GRAIN DUST EXPLOSIONS.
Same PreCaution should BE Taken
in Flour Mills as in Coal Mines.

ii Nat the same degree OF care eS-
ercised in a mine to prevent the eX-
plosion of coal dust should be used
in -four mills. grain elevators and
products factories to guard against
the explosion of grain dusts is the
conclusion reached by experts as the
result of cooperative investigation
made by the millers of the country
and the United States bureau of
mines.
The milling industry in the last
ten years has been visited by Series
Of mysterious explosions costing sew
eral hundred lives and hundreds of
thousands of dollars in property
The climax came in June. 1918,
when an explosion in a Buffalo. n
Y, mill killed 33 men and injured
20. The millers, realizing that the
bureau of mines men were experts
on coal dust explosions, called upon
them for assistance in a complete
investigation in order that future
catastrophes might be avoided. Da-
vid J. Price, of the bureau of mines.
was assigned to the work under the
direction of Dr.. G. A. Hulett, chief
chemist of the bureau, and Harold
H. Brown represented the millers.
The mines experts declare that all
dusts containing carbon are explosive
under certain conditions and that
immediate steps should be taken to
safeguard against such. They de-
scribe a terrific explosion in grain
elevator and say: We are forced
to conclude that. if an explosion
with such terrible force and violence
could occur at this elevator. then the
grain elevators of the country are
at all times subject to the possibility
of a similar occurrence if favorable
conditions exist. Many milling men
have maintained a false sense of Sc
curity and have felt that the eleva-
tors were not especially a source of
danger. and that as long as an eXplo-
sion did not originate in the grind
ing mill proper, they were reason
ably safe. This explosion alone
would seem to indicate sufficiently
that the dusts created during the
elevating and storing of grain are
explosive and dangerous.
On the subject of the causes of
grain dust explosion, the experts
say:
AT the present time in modern
milling plants the use of an open
flame light is positively prohibited,
and is generally regarded as an ele-
ment Of very great danger. Many
explosions have been traced to this
source. The use of gas jets for light
ing purposes, the introduction of
lanterns or open lights into grain
bins or dust collecting systems are
very dangerous.
Many violent explosions have oc-
Cured during mill fires, due to the
presence of dust in large quantities.
The flames and force from fire pro-
duce sufficient conclusion to jar the
dust into suspension and initiate a
very violent explosion.
"a large number of explosions in
more recent years have been traced
to the introduction of foreign ma
terials into grinding machines. Par
ticles of such materials, coming into
contact with the grinding plates OF
the machines, produce sufficient
sparks to cause an ignition of the
dusts.
1T is necessary in mills and eleva-
tors for the workmen to determine
at frequent intervals the amount of
grain that the storage bin contains.
A common practice is to lower light
of some kind into the bin to observe
or measure the quantity of grain.
Many explosions have occurred when
open lights were used. The desired
results can be obtained by lowering
tape with a weight attached to
the end, and the exact measurement
can be recorded. When occasion
renders it absolutely necessary to
use lamp of some kind in bin, an
approved type of portable electric
lamp could be used. Electric bulbs
in dusty atmospheres located near
machinery where there is possibili-
ty of the lamp becoming broken, or
at points in the mill where workmen
may strike the lamp. especially when
carrying projection of some kind
on their shoulder, should be enclosed
in strong wire guards or protectors,
and it would be advisable to enclose
each bulb in a vaporproof globe. An
extra safety feature would be, when
ever possible, to locate all fuses on
Eoht and noUar circi1itS switches