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From the excellent Safety Engineering Network, a wood dust explosion in a hopper at a furniture manufacturing facility. Nobody was hurt in the explosion, probably because all of the people impacted were firefighters fully clad in protective gear.
Explosion at 0:38, then again in slow motion at 0:46.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hS6IGO2tdA
That's scary. What are the chances of it happening to one of us at home that use a similar system, but on a much smaller scale?
That's a very interesting question. I've never heard of it happening on a small scale. I know it's certainly possible, but my take on it is that there are factors in a home workshop that limit the likelihood of dust explosion. Specifically, the dust has to be very fine, generated rapidly, and existing in a narrow window of concentration in the air.
Here's a small scale dust explosion demonstrated, at 1:27.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es-WvbfHM6c
And here's an interesting take on the likelihood of PVC static electricity spark induced explosions in home workshops: Why dust explosions in a home woodshop are just a myth
The more accepted danger with wood dust in home shops is of course repeated exposure to the dust, which is recognized as a carcinogen.
Thanks for that info and video. I was going to make the point about PVC in a dust collection system. Now I see there's no point, after reading the info. My fears have been put to rest.