The National Slag Association discusses safety and environmental issues at its regional meeting

The National Slag Association’s (NSA) regional meeting took place at the new Caterpillar Visitor Center in Peoria, USA, on 19 – 20 March. The meeting was sponsored and hosted by Dust Control Technology, and was attended by more than 50 active and allied NSA members. This included steel producers, slag processors, equipment manufacturers and service providers. The meeting addressed a range of subjects, placing a particular focus on safety and environmental issues. The discussed topics included: safety innovations; regulatory trends; EPA legislation; fugitive dust management; best practices; new equipment; industry governing bodies.

DCT Vice President Aaron Valencic pointed out that safety was always a primary topic at the meetings. “The steel industry doesn’t have a governing body such as the mining industry has in MSHA, and OSHA really isn’t comprehensive enough to cover all steel industry activity.” As a result of this, one of the NSA’s aims is to form groups to develop best practices and reduce workplace hazards.

The NSA recently joined an alliance known as ‘World of Iron and Steel Slag’ (WOISS), which includes the Australasian Slag Association, Brazilian Slag Association, Euroslag Association and Nippon Slag Association. The WOISS will hold an annual meeting and quarterly conference calls.

Since its founding in 1918, the NSA has promoted the use of blast furnace and steel furnace slag. When quenched by water or air, blast furnace slag produces ground granulated blast slag, which, when finely-ground, can be used as a replacement for Portland cement in concrete. Steel furnace slag has been used as a raw material for Portland cement manufacture.

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/12042013/usa_national_slag_association_dust_control_technology_meeting_952/