Dust to Disaster: Managing Combustible Dust Hazards
Already registered? Click here to log in.
Summary
Combustible dust explosions remain one of the most persistent and underestimated threats in chemical processing. This roundtable will tackle the real-world challenges of identifying, assessing and controlling combustible dust hazards across a range of processing environments.
Moderated by Jonathan McPherson and Todd Smith of the Bulk Solids Technology Center at Kansas State University, this session will share frontline perspectives spanning the full spectrum of combustible dust risk management to the design and maintenance of dust collection systems built to handle combustible materials safely and in compliance with NFPA 652, 654, and OSHA's combustible dust National Emphasis Program.
The discussion will also answer these questions: How do you translate lab data into appropriately engineered protection systems? What does a robust housekeeping program actually look like in a high-throughput facility? And how do you build a culture of dust safety that goes beyond checking regulatory boxes?
Whether you're refining an existing program or starting from scratch, this roundtable delivers frank, peer-to-peer dialogue. Don't miss the conversation that could prevent the next incident at your facility.
Panelists
Dr. Ashok Ghose Dastidar, PhD MBA
Vice President , Dust & Flammability Testing and Consulting Services
Fauske & Associates
Dr. Ashok Ghose Dastidar specializes in Chemical Process Hazards Analysis, specifically - Flammable Dusts, Liquids & Vapors Explosions and Combustion Hazards Analysis and Testing as well as Electrostatic Hazards Analysis.
Alex Noonan
Applications Engineering Manager Industrial Air Filtration
Donaldson Company, Inc
Alex Noonan is the Applications Engineering Manager with Donaldson Company's Industrial Air Filtration business unit in Bloomington, Minnesota. He has more than a decade of experience helping customers with technical and application guidance specific to the dust collection industry.
Panel Moderators
Jonathan McPherson
Director of Advanced Manufacturing Research and Training
KSU- Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center
Jonathan McPherson is the director of K-State's Advanced Manufacturing and Bulk Solids Technology Center. Jonathan comes from industry having spent 11 years designing and commissioning material handling projects as a project engineer and developing business relationships in the markets of performance materials, battery and general industry as an account executive. His project backgrounds include plastics, PVC, paint, lead-acid battery, food and confectionary. Jonathan works to support the development of advanced manufacturing training by offering industry-focused short courses on bulk solids and material handling. Jonathan also manages the advanced manufacturing research program, which focuses on solving real industry problems. The program includes two lab spaces; The Materials lab focuses on the Flowability, Particle Size, Abrasion Characteristics, and other critical properties of powders and dry materials. The Process lab includes a full scale convey system, and is a new addition to K-State Olathe set to come on line in the Spring of 2026.
Todd Smith
SME
KSU-Bulk Solids Technology Center
Todd spent 35 years in the bulk solids industry, first at DuPont, then as Engineering Manager at MAC Equipment (now Coperion) and then General Manager of Coperion K-Tron Salina and vice president of the company’s Global Systems Group. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Kansas State University and earned his M.B.A in 1998. He has authored one book, as well as many magazine articles and technical papers. Todd’s Board of Director experience includes president of the KSU Dean’s Advisory Council, Process Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, Salina Area Technical College, Salina Chamber of Commerce, Salina Regional Health Foundation, Salina Municipal Band, and Salina Soccer Club.
Webinar Moderator
Jonathan Katz
Executive Editor
Chemical Processing
Jonathan Katz, executive editor, brings nearly two decades of experience as a B2B journalist to Chemical Processing magazine. He has expertise on a wide range of industrial topics. Jon previously served as the managing editor for IndustryWeek magazine and, most recently, as a freelance writer specializing in content marketing for the manufacturing sector. His knowledge areas include industrial safety, environmental compliance/sustainability, lean manufacturing/continuous improvement, Industry 4.0/automation and many other topics of interest to the Chemical Processing audience
