The Perils of Dust - Small Particles, Big Bang

A buffet will be available from 5.30pm for a 6pm start
at The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone ME14 1LQ (Home of Maidstone United FC)

Event Overview:

In this lecture Andrew will talk about the hazard from dust explosions and how small particles of dust generated during handling of dry materials such as grain, sugar, flour, tea, coffee etc. can cause substantial damage to buildings, injuries and even fatalities.

Andrew will illustrate the typical dust concentration required for a dust explosion to occur and discus the secondary dust explosion hazard posed by dust accumulations in the workplace and the importance of cleaning in preventing secondary dust explosions. Finally he will consider the control measures available for protection from dust explosions and, based on his experience of assessing process operations worldwide, advise where explosion prevention measures alone may be sufficient to control the risk, or where explosion protection measures are needed.

Learning objectives

By attending this event, delegates will be able to identify:

• how dust explosions occur
• the importance of cleaning in order to reduce dust explosion hazards
• the means of protecting again

Speaker biography - Andrew Dickens, Director, Phoenix Loss Prevention Ltd

Andrew has a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge. After 8 years in process industry Andrew joined Burgoyne Consultants becoming a Director. In 2003 Andrew co-founded Phoenix and provides advice to multi-national Food & Drink companies on dust explosion hazards.