Earlier in 2008 OSHA issued directive CPL-00-008, Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. This program is meant to induce industry to develop a greater awareness of dust explosion hazards via the threat of greater scrutiny by OSHA inspectors.
Dust explosion hazards have been poorly appreciated by plant operators in a wide range of industries. The recent explosion at Imperial Sugar in Port Wentworth, GA, on February 7, 2008, has helped to raise awareness both from regulators and plant operators. Part of the problem has to do with a poor understanding of the explosibility of dusts generally, and with the lack of data on the explosibility of a great many common products in particular. Safety consultants I know have been busy with clients from the sugar refining field. It caught their attention.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
Threat of inspection by OSHA inspectors? Just pay them off, like most companies do.
1) they don’t inspect
2) they don’t enforce
3)they bow to any political pressure (if you’re a big Co. in a small town, don’t bother to even get up to spec.)
4) If someone in your company gets hurt, they’ll help management cover it up.
5) AND YES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE THEY DO TAKE BRIBES! (cash in brown paper bag accepted)
Overall those guys are indentured civil servants who don’t want to make work for themselves. The concept of them caring about worker safety is not credible. If anything they are a somewhat sleezy, mafioso type group of corrupt individuals. Once hired into OSHA, it’s a job for life.
Oh, yes, they also make up to six figures for the honor of doing nothing.
Your tax dollars at work.
EPA doesn’t seem to think dust is a hazard they need to regulate, though – they seem to think that those plants still existing with potential powder risks will fix their own liabilities witout any intervention. It’s worked out so well before…
If OSHA and EPA won’t bother, and the chemical accident investigation board can’t, who does?
Mythbusters and 700 lbs of non-dairy coffee creamer dust cloud.
OSHA visits are controlled by greeting the git at the gate with the corporate attorney, a videocam, spare batteries and tapes. Evil withers from facts in evidence.
Sometimes OSHA will bring contractor help along. The combination can be considerably less than delightful.