Building the World’s Largest Training Company in Combustible Dust Safety: Our Journey Begins

Welcome to the first instalment of our weekly blog series on LinkedIn, where we’ll be sharing the journey of creating the world’s largest training company specialized in combustible dust safety.

Each week, I’ll take you behind the scenes as we build this company, share our experiences, and explore the insights we gather along the way.

At DustEx Research Ltd., our mission is to see at least one with zero fatalities worldwide from dust explosions by 2038.

We've made strides through research, awareness campaigns, and connecting people around the world at our annual conferences. But today, we embark on a new chapter — a journey to build the world’s largest training company focused on combustible dust safety.

Why Are We Doing This?

The feedback we've received from our community has been both humbling and motivating. While our awareness materials, research, and connection platforms are appreciated, there's a glaring need for deeper, more practical knowledge.

The ability to learn and create actionable strategies to address combustible dust hazards is crucial. People are asking for more than just information; they need tools to facilitate change at their sites, within their businesses, and with the clients they serve daily. This is where our new training company comes in.

Launching Our First Program

We’re excited to announce the launch of our Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate Program, kicking off on September 17th and running through October.

This program is the result of over 300 conversations with professionals working in industries handling combustible dust across the globe — from the United States to Latin America, Europe, the UK, India, Malaysia, the Middle East, Japan, China, and beyond.

We've gathered invaluable insights on the top challenges people face with combustible dust and are focused on delivering a training program that moves participants from a beginner to an intermediate level of expertise.

While our first training program will address immediate needs, our long-term vision for this company is shaped by four key takeaways from the conversations we've had so far. These represent the broader challenges we aim to tackle as we grow and expand our offerings in combustible dust training.

Four Key Takeaways from Our Conversations

1. Career Development Pathways for Combustible Dust Safety There’s a significant demand for career development in combustible dust safety. Whether they’re students, health and safety managers, or operations professionals looking to move into consulting, people need a structured pathway to understand and excel in combustible dust management. Unfortunately, these pathways are almost non-existent today, and we aim to change that.
2. Support for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Small and medium-sized businesses, including equipment suppliers, service providers, and independent consultants, are eager to understand combustible dust better so they can support their clients more effectively. Right now, there’s no easy way for these companies to gain the knowledge they need to be trusted advisors in this critical area. We’re committed to filling that gap.
3. Corporate and Organizational Support Medium and large organizations need robust training programs to keep their workers safe and to move their safety initiatives in a positive direction. Whether they have five or 2500 employees who need to understand combustible dust hazards, there’s a pressing need for scalable solutions. We’re working on developing those solutions.
4. On-Demand Training for Independent Learning There’s a desperate need for on-demand training covering specific topics like combustible dust testing, electrostatics, dust collection design, explosion protection calculations, and dust hazard analysis. High-level training exists, but it often leaves people wondering where to go next. Our goal is to create the most comprehensive library of training in the world on these topics.

In Closing

This week’s blog marks the beginning of our journey to build the world’s largest training company in combustible dust safety.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about what we’ve learned and how we’re progressing.

If you’re interested in our upcoming Specialist Certificate Program, starting in just a couple of weeks, send me a direct message with the word “training” to learn more.

If have specific topics you’d like us to cover in our training or would like to provide feedback to the development and direction of this company — don’t hesitate to reach out.

We are building this for you... for all of us to change the world together, and we’re here to help you gain the skills, knowledge, and connections you need to succeed.

Until next week, stay safe and thank you for the work you do out there!

Chris Cloney

Managing Director, DustEx Research Ltd.

DustSafetyScience.com