Safety, dust management among NSA meeting topics

The National Slag Association (NSA) held its regional meeting March 19-20 at the new Caterpillar Visitor Center in Peoria, Ill. Attendees represented a cross-section of steel producers, slag processors, equipment manufacturers and service providers who gathered to discuss safety innovations, environmental issues, regulatory trends and new equipment.

Among the topics discussed were industry governing bodies, best practices, a review of EPA legislation and fugitive dust management. Most discussions were dominated by safety and environmental content.

The event was attended by more than 50 active and allied NSA members, including organizations that are actively engaged in iron and steel slag processing, refining and the marketing of these slags, as well as those involved in related activities, such as manufacturers and users of iron and steel slags.

“The steel industry doesn’t have a governing body such as the mining industry has in MSHA,” says Aaron Valencic, Dust Control Technology’s vice president. “And OSHA really isn’t comprehensive enough to cover all steel industry activity. For that reason, NSA considers part of its mission to be forming groups to develop best practices and reduce workplace hazards.”