Learning Safety of Dusts and Liquids by a Combined Experimental Lessons and Lectures Approach

This paper presents in detail a novel course introduced in the academic year 2021/2022 in the Master's degree program in Chemical Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II. The course, called Safety of Dusts and Liquids and Lab Activities, aims to educate students on the industrial safety issues of combustible dusts and flammable liquids. The course was structured with lectures, classroom exercises and laboratory activities aimed at characterizing the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity of certain gaseous fuels, liquids and dusts. Each laboratory activity was preceded by a video tutorial, designed and prepared by the lecturers, in order to introduce the students to the activities and prepare them for all the procedures to be performed. Students' satisfaction was assessed through the compilation of several anonymous surveys. Results showed a high level of student satisfaction with the course topics and laboratory activities and they will also be used to introduce some improvements for next year.