Combustible Dust Training Institute — Comprehensive Training Program

The Essential 10-Hour Foundation in Combustible Dust Safety and Dust Hazard Analysis

Get access to the full replay of our industry-leading training program. Complete all assessments and earn your Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate — on your own schedule.

Led by Michelle Murphy & Chris Cloney

10 Hours of Expert Training

3 Structured Sessions

Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate

6 months access • Instant start

Save 15% — Bundle Discount

$1,149 $1,350

You save $201 USD

Full program — 6 months access

✓ Day 1: Introduction to Combustible Dust Hazards (2 hrs)
✓ Day 2: Dust Hazard Analysis Deep Dive (4 hrs)
✓ Day 3: Hazard Management & Protection (4 hrs)
✓ All Quizzes & Assessments
✓ Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate
✓ 6 Months Full Program Access
✓ Ongoing Instructor Support

Secure checkout • Instant access

Questions? support@dustsafetyscience.com

The Gap Is Real

Do You Have the Foundation You Need to Lead Combustible Dust Safety at Your Facility?

Combustible dust safety is a complex, multi-disciplinary field — and most safety professionals enter it without formal training. They learn on the job, filling gaps as they encounter them, often without a complete picture of how hazard recognition, dust testing, DHA methodology, and explosion protection all fit together. This fragmented knowledge base creates blind spots that put facilities at risk and leaves professionals unable to fully evaluate the work of consultants, contractors, and equipment suppliers.

Dust Explosion Safety & DHA Demystified is the comprehensive 10-hour program that gives you the complete foundation. Whether you are new to combustible dust safety or looking to formalize and deepen your existing knowledge, this program covers everything from hazard recognition to DHA methodology to explosion protection system selection — in a single, structured learning experience.

🎓

Certification Prerequisite

Recommended Foundation for CDSP™ and CDHA™ Certification

This program is the recommended prerequisite for both the Certified Dust Safety Professional™ (CDSP) and Certified DHA Leader™ (CDHA) certification programs. Completing it first ensures you have the foundational knowledge to get maximum value from either certification pathway. It can also be purchased and completed as a standalone program — the Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate is a recognized credential in its own right.

Learn About CDSP™ Learn About CDHA™

What You Will Gain

The Complete Foundation in Combustible Dust Safety

Complete Foundational Knowledge

Build a comprehensive understanding of combustible dust hazards, from the basic science of dust explosions to the regulatory framework governing industrial facilities.

DHA Methodology Mastery

Develop the skills to understand, evaluate, and participate in Dust Hazard Analyses — including hazard identification, scenario definition, safeguard evaluation, and recommendation development.

Hazard Management Expertise

Learn how management systems, housekeeping programs, ignition source control, and explosion protection systems work together to reduce risk.

Professional Credential

Earn the Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate upon completing all three sessions and assessments — a recognized credential demonstrating your foundational expertise.

Program Curriculum

Three Sessions. Ten Hours. Complete Coverage.

The program is structured across three sessions, each building on the last — from hazard fundamentals through DHA methodology to comprehensive hazard management.

Introduction & Background — Examples of open-air deflagrations, large coal dust explosions, NFPA Standards & Engineering Guidelines

Part 1.1 Recognizing the Hazards — Triangles, Squares, and Pentagons; Flowchart to identify and assess hazards

Part 1.2 Understanding Dust Testing — Types of testing parameters, sample preparation, test decision tree, minimum tests per processing unit operation

Part 1.3 Identify and Assess the Hazards — High-level overview of the DHA process, risk ranking and implementation planning, area classification

Part 1.4 Managing the Hazards — Explosion prevention and protection, explosion isolation, relevant operating parameters for different process unit operations, dealing with ignition sources

Case Studies — Buffing operation of chromium parts; Polymer handling facility

Part 1: Review of Combustible Dust Testing — Dust Test Decision Tree, granular & powdered sugar dust example, polyethylene dust example

Part 2.1 How to Identify Hazards — Differences between processes and building spaces, checklist approach, group exercise

Part 2.2 How to Define Scenarios — Evaluating causes and consequences, understanding worst-case scenarios, group exercise

Part 2.3 How to Evaluate Safeguards — Prescriptive versus risk-based evaluation, risk matrices, group exercise

Part 2.4 How to Make Recommendations — Examples of effective and ineffective recommendations, reporting process

Part 3: Fugitive Dust and Building Space Evaluation — Rules of thumb, minimum layer thickness criteria, case study

Part 1 Management Systems — Management Systems Feedback Framework, document retention, safe work practices, housekeeping programs, management of change

Part 2 Mitigation and Prevention — Inherently safer design, equipment design requirements, pyrophoric & reactive dusts, dust control systems

Part 3 Explosion Protection — Inerting system design, explosion suppression, explosion venting design calculations, fireball dimension calculations

Part 4 Ignition Source Evaluation — Types of ignition sources, electrostatic ignition sources, ignition source checklist

Closing Case Studies — The true cost and opportunity in combustible dust safety; Summary of all program concepts

🏆

Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate

Complete all three sessions and pass the assessments to earn your Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate — a recognized credential demonstrating comprehensive foundational expertise in combustible dust safety.

What Participants Say

Trusted by Safety Professionals Across North America

"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the training program from you and Michelle. I honestly was concerned that these webinars would be pre-canned. But the in-depth material kept it fresh over the entire time period and provided me the tools I needed to continue to grow in this space."

"I watched the replay of the course and it was excellent. I have attended and delivered many basic combustible dust courses and your course was a step beyond the fundamental material available elsewhere!"

Meet Your Instructors

Learn From Industry-Leading Experts

Lead Program Instructor

Michelle Murphy, M.S., CCPSC

President, Mica LLC • Co-Founder, CDTI

Michelle Murphy is a seasoned chemical engineer and process safety expert with over 25 years of consulting experience. She founded Mica, LLC to help manufacturing facilities identify and manage combustible dust and reactive chemical hazards. Her expertise spans dust hazard analysis, combustible dust testing, process safety program development, and emergency relief system design across food, agriculture, chemicals, metals, and pharmaceuticals. Michelle holds an M.S. in chemical engineering from Clarkson University and is a Certified Process Safety Professional (CCPS).

Co-Instructor & Lead Researcher

Chris Cloney, PhD., PEng.

Managing Director, Dust Safety Science • Co-Founder, CDTI

Chris Cloney has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD in chemical engineering studying the physics and chemistry of dust explosions. Over the past decade he has worked with hundreds of companies and safety professionals around the world, sharing dust safety lessons through podcasts, webinars, and in-person training programs.

Why Choose CDTI

The Most Comprehensive Combustible Dust Training Available

The Most Comprehensive Program Available

No other on-demand training program covers the full spectrum of combustible dust safety — from hazard science to DHA methodology to explosion protection — in a single structured learning experience.

Built on 35+ Years of Real-World Experience

Every session is developed and delivered by Michelle Murphy and Chris Cloney, who have conducted DHAs, designed protection systems, and reviewed incidents at hundreds of facilities across the world.

The Foundation for Professional Certification

This program is the recommended prerequisite for the CDSP and CDHA certification programs — making it the logical starting point for any professional pursuing formal credentials in combustible dust safety.

Who This Program Is For

The Essential Foundation for Anyone Responsible for Combustible Dust Safety

EHS ManagersSafety ManagersPlant ManagersProcess Safety EngineersOperations ManagersDHA ConsultantsFire InspectorsInsurance Risk EngineersCompliance OfficersFire Marshalls

Enroll Today

Everything Included in the Program

Save 15% — Bundle Discount

$1,149

$1,350

You save $201 USD

Full program — 6 months access

✓ Day 1: Introduction to Combustible Dust Hazards (2 hrs)
✓ Day 2: Dust Hazard Analysis Deep Dive (4 hrs)
✓ Day 3: Hazard Management & Protection (4 hrs)
✓ All Quizzes & Assessments
✓ Combustible Dust Specialist Certificate
✓ 6 Months Full Program Access
✓ Ongoing Instructor Support

Trusted by safety professionals in manufacturing, grain, chemical, wood, food, and energy sectors worldwide.