Is Safety A Priority or a Value? - with Kevin Jeffries
Safety works best when it is more than a priority. It needs to be part of how your plant operates every day. In Episode 19 of the OnAire Podcast, Senior Explosion Safety Consultant Kevin Jeffries shares lessons from 30 years in EH&S, including firsthand experience with facilities impacted by major explosions. He explains why combustible dust safety starts with understanding real-world risk, listening to the people doing the work, and designing processes that make the safe choice the easy choice. The conversation explores safety culture, dust explosion prevention, leadership, and why EH&S should be a partner in production, not just the department called when something goes wrong.
30 Jul 2026
Combustible Dust Housekeeping: Real Lessons From 15 Years in Manufacturing - with Darrell Cloudt
What can more than 15 years and over 1,000 industrial dust control fan installations teach you about combustible dust housekeeping?
In this episode of the OnAire Podcast, Jordan and Taylor sit down with Darrell Cloudt of Energy Solutions of Texas, one of the most experienced SonicAire installers in the world. From wood products and plastics to grain processing and food manufacturing, Darrell has seen firsthand what works, what doesn't, and what manufacturers often overlook.
They discuss why overhead dust is usually worse than plant teams expect, why pre-cleaning is critical to long-term success, and how communication between contractors and facility teams can make or break an installation. Darrell also shares stories from challenging projects, including towering grain facilities, hazardous Class II Division 1 environments, and facilities where preventive maintenance made the difference between reliable performance and costly downtime.
Whether you're a plant engineer, maintenance manager, operations leader, or EH&S professional, this conversation is full of practical advice you can apply in your facility today.
In this episode:
• Why combustible dust is often hiding where no one is looking• The importance of pre-cleaning before installing a dust control system• Common installation mistakes and how to avoid them• Why preventive maintenance protects your investment• Lessons learned from more than 1,000 industrial fan installations• How facilities improve housekeeping without increasing labor
Featured Quote:"It's a lot worse than you think it is. Every time you do a startup, they realize you were right."
Learn more about SonicAire's engineered dust control solutions:👉 https://www.sonicaire.com
Who has been a guest on OnAire with SonicAire
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Mark Ritter
Jana Casalta
Jonathan McPherson
Diane Cave
Tommy Cocanougher
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