Bioproducts Company to Train Employees with Combustible Dust Simulator
Penford Products of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced the simulator's completion on May 21. It was developed in partnership with Iowa State University's American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
Penford Products of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has a new combustible dust simulator that it will use in its safety training program, the company announced May 21. Penford Products developed it in partnership with Iowa State University's American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ISU ASABE), having partnered with ISU ASABE to train and educate both students and employees on potential dust hazards in the grain milling industry. A group of student engineers visited the company's Cedar Rapids plant April 25 to demonstrate the simulator.
"Being able to work with ISU ASABE to develop tools to more effectively train Penford employees of the risks associated with combustible dusts is a great opportunity for both parties. This gives ASABE Club members an opportunity to work on a project that is relevant and provides value, while Penford benefits by receiving a more effective training tool," said Chuck Duthler, vice president of environmental health and safety at Penford.
"It has been a great experience for the members of our design team because this is one of the first times we have been able to apply the knowledge of the engineering design process towards an actual design activity," said Tyler Bouslog, a member of ISU ASABE.
The company said its combustible dust safety program emphasizes training, preventative maintenance, good housekeeping, and proper engineering design and controls. A division of Penford Corporation, it is a global supplier of specialty bioproducts for use in industrial applications including coatings, adhesives, and polymers.