Combustible Dust: Managing an Underestimated Hazard

Chrissy Klocker is the Technical Services Manager with Donaldson Company's Industrial Air Filtration business unit in Bloomington, Minnesota. She has more than a decade of experience helping customers with technical and application guidance specific to the dust collection industry. For the past several years, she has instructed at the Industrial Ventilation Conference in Lansing, Michigan, where she also serves on the conference planning committee.

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.

With over 21 years of experience in fire science, Jordan is currently the owner and president of SonicAire, a manufacturer of dust control systems. Since joining SonicAire 
in 2010, Jordan has led both the engineering and sales teams for the company. Prior to his tenure at SonicAire, Jordan was a forensic engineer where he investigated fires and explosions. He also worked for Underwriters Laboratories where he certified firefighting equipment and PPE. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, an MBA from LeTourneau University, and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He currently serves on the NFPA 660 Technical Committee on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dusts. He has been married to his wife Meredith for 21 years and has three energetic kids.

Colby Friant is an Explosion Safety Consultant for BPA Consulting, a division of Boss Products. He brings 13 years of experience as a firefighter and training instructor, along with 6 years in fire and explosion protection engineering. His expertise includes accident investigation, facility siting studies, testing, and combustible dust safety.

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.

Traci Purdum, an award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering manufacturing and management issues, is a graduate of the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent, Ohio, and an alumnus of the Wharton Seminar for Business Journalists, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Purdum, who has been with Chemical Processing since 2008, serves as moderator to the brand’s many webinars and roundtables. She also hosts the podcast Process Safety With Trish & Traci.