Combustible dust is one of the most under-recognized hazards in industrial facilities. This is because many people, even safety professionals, are unaware of how common combustible dust is and how dangerous it can be. Combustible dust is present in nearly every manufacturing and industrial processing facility across the globe — from aerospace and auto manufacturing to food processing and metalworking. And, where there’s combustible dust, there’s the possibility of an explosion that can result in serious damage to your facility, your personnel, and, ultimately, your business. To illustrate the pervasiveness of this hazard, we’ve rounded up descriptions of combustible dust incidents from 15 different industries. As you peruse the examples below, keep in mind that combustible dust fires and explosions are 100% preventable through proper controls and housekeeping.