Developing Best Practices for Safer Operations
Drum dryers present the risk of fires and explosions due to combustible dust, as well as conditions that can lead to the generation and accumulation of combustible gas. Join us for this online symposium as we explore best practices for safer operations of drum dryers.
The Wood Pellet Association of Canada is hosting the event in collaboration with the BC Forest Safety Council and media sponsor, Canadian Biomass. The event will be held Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 9:00-11:00 am Pacific Time (1:00-3:00 pm Atlantic Time).
Across the Canadian wood pellet industry, both drum dryers and belt dryers are widely used, as well in other sectors, including panel board (oriented strand board (OSB), medium density fibreboard (MDF)), grain, and minerals. There have been past incidents involving drum dryers in the wood pellet sector from which we can all learn. The symposium will include presentations from producers and subject matter experts on learnings and experiences, the current state of and new approaches to drum dryer safety.
Previously, our industry successfully completed a collaborative initiative on belt dryer safety. Following on the success of that model, an outcome of the drum dryer symposium will be a proposed drum dryer working group. This working group will collaboratively take a closer look at trends, identify opportunities for improvement, and formulate recommendations. Resources will be created and shared to help support the continuous improvement of dryers and enhancement of the sector’s safety culture.
We encourage personnel at wood pellet facilities that operate drum dryers to attend the event. This includes managers, supervisors, maintenance staff, safety coordinators and specialists, and engineers. Individuals who work in allied sectors, including suppliers of drying and heating equipment, insurance, and consultants, should also participate. Other industries that operate drum dryers are also welcome to attend.
Register for the Symposium here!
For more information contact me at gord@pellet.org.
Gordon Murray is the Executive Director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada.