Caption: PSM is a three-phased process. In 2025, WPAC’s Safety Committee will focus on imple-menting Phase 1 elements. rizes the key actions plan operators can take to manage the risk of combustible gas in drum dryers. Our website wpaclearning.com is a free online operator train -ing program developed by operations for operations to provide training and improve safety competency. I encourage everyone in wood pellet operations to use the program. ONGOING AND FUTURE INITIATIVES WPAC’s Safety Committee continues to listen to the Canadian wood pellet sector and focus on activities that reflect their needs. We have several ongoing initiatives planned for 2025 and a few new ones. Process Safety Management (PSM) is a core focus for the WPAC Safety Committee over the next five to seven years. Around the world, PSM is becoming key to worker safety and managing risk. It protects personnel, equipment and production uptime and is associated with lower maintenance costs, insurance and capital. The PSM initiative has been broken into three phases so it is more accessible and achievable. In 2025, the Committee will de -termine key performance indicators for the entire PSM implemen -tation process to establish what success looks like. Focusing on Phase 1 implementation, we will roll out gap analysis worksheets to all operations. Every workplace has unique hazards that can impact the safe operation of mobile equipment. These hazards must be identified, assessed and controlled to minimize the risk of dam -age or injury. In 2025, the Committee will hold bow-tie analy -sis sessions and a symposium on Mobile Equipment Safety to understand the risks associated with mobile equipment in wood pellet plants. Drum dryers present the risk of fires and explosions due to combustible dust and conditions that can lead to the gen -eration and accumulation of combustible gas. A symposium held in 2024 initiated the Rotary Drum Dryer Safety project, which led to a dedicated Working Group reviewing past inci -dents and developing enhanced, safer operating procedures. The Group will publish a report and share its findings in 2025. WorkSafeBC has proposed amendments to part 6, Sub -stance Specific Requirements of the Combustible Dusts section of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. To help wood pellet companies understand these proposed changes, the Safety Committee will summarize and share them and prompt operations to assess their readiness to im -plement them. We will continue to profile Safety Heroes every two months to acknowledge employees who support safety. You can submit nominations at pellet.org. The Safety Committee also plans to hold our annual Wood Pellet and Biomass Safety Summit, where we will dive deeper into many critical safety issues affecting the industry today. Stay tuned for an announcement of a location and dates. New to 2025: Along with the continuing safety initiatives listed above, we will review the impacts of previous safety ini -tiatives, take a closer look at mental health and musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) and update winter fibre truck loading/unloading standard operating procedures. We warmly welcome new members to the WPAC Safety Committee. We meet on the second Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. (PST). Members include the BC Forest Safety Council, the wood pellet and biofuel industry and academic institutions. To read the Work Plan and sign up, please visit pellet.org. • AUTOMATE MOISTURE CONTROL To ensure optimal operation of industrial boilers, it is crucial to determine the moisture content of the feedstock, enabling quick adjustments in feed rate. The implementation of an automatic control device minimizes operator intervention, leading to reduced labor costs. Consistent moisture levels help prevent product wastage, the need for recycling, and the associated expenses related to labor and utilities for resetting the drying system. 941-727-1800 www.moisttech.com Increase Drying Efficiency, Save Time & Energy by Measuring the Moisture Content: Closed Loop Process Canadian BIOMASS CB_MoistTech_Winter25_CSA.indd 1 2025-02-03 1:23 PM 9
Canadian Biomass Winter 2025: Page 9
