Document mqLM2YB8Vbw7E0r2v1dxvEJXJ

R. A. Landy, Director of Rcsjr - Worth Am? r i can Refractories. Como si Technical Center ' *y 3127 Research Drive , State College, fh 1&S01 Michael D. Hcintzman, Esquire Grigsby, Ceca & Davies, P. C. 2700 Frick Building Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 25219 ... , .. Dear Hr. Hcintzman: ^ 1 mm a graduate mineralogist, a person whose forte deals with the origin and structure of minerals, I graduated in 19S3 with a S.B. in Geology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In subsequent work done at the Pennsylvania State University I earned an H.S. In Mineralogy in 1955, and a Ph.D. in Mineralogy in 1961. . My industrial experience began with Carborundum Company In i960, where T-was hired as a Supervising Engineer responsible for 11 raw materials, products-in-process and finished products test ing for their Bonded Abrasives Division. In late 1962 I was hired as a Research Mineralogist for Basic Znc.? X held that posi tion for about one and a half years, and my major assignment was to evaluate their raw materials, products-in-process and finished products, the latter being evaluated as after manufacture and, also, after service. I became Quality Assurance Manager in 1964, and held that position for about one year. After two-year posi tion as a Professor at Allegheny College in Keadvllle, Pennsylvania, teaching various courses in geology and mineralogy to undergrad uates, 2 was hired as a Research Mineralogist for North American Refractories Company in Curwensville, Pennsylvania. I held that position for three years. During this time I was also responsi ble for evaluating various raw materials, products-in-process and finished products manufactured by NARCO, as well as those finished products after service. In 1970 I became the Director of Research for North American Refractories Company, and, as such, am responsible for all product development and quality assurance activities conducted by North American Refractories Company. -- North American Refractories Company manufactures refractor ies for the iron and steel Industry as well as for the industrial nr 1 V . Hcint xm n , ILitq. -7- Ocli'l'vi 10, /HjrVolt . Vc msnofnrturc a broad lini.- of refractories, but Our pi .wiy product line it in the area of bstic refractories. The products manufactured by NAKCO and our competitor* 90 -"it a variety f furnaces in the steel industry. These furnaces \ *nge from coke ovens through blast furnaces and primary ateel< 'taking furnaces such as basic oxygen furnaces, ladles, nd jarious reheat furnaces. In turn, each furnace is toned with a variety f refractory qualities from various refractory producers, In some cases, several brands of the si me quality may be present. Such a condition complicates the pinpointing of a source of a mineral, for example, silica, and, in fact, may make any conclu sion ambiguous. The steel industry companies have staffs working for them that are skilled in the use of products that we sell. In fact, they, in many cases, specify the type of products used to line these furnaces. Our company has many meetings per year with these refractory specialists telling them about the technical aspects of our products as well as discussing the price. During these meetings many ideas are brought forth by the refractory specialists of the steel companies to affect our product develop ment work. These refractory specialists have backgrounds that allow them to,, understand the types of raw materials going into these products', -and, in many instances, also conduct their own development and testing work on these materials. Korth American Refractories Company voluntarily began send ing OS HA material safety data sheets to our customers in the early to nud-1970's. These sheets, which were supplied to certain steel companies as well, contained comments relating to the hazards of our various products, and augmented what the steel companies already knew about these materials based on their Staff industrial hygienists. NARCO has always complied with all exist ing safety requirements, and has always supplied products that met the state of the art. Our company has been influenced by the actions of our customers, such as the steel companies, In attempt ing to protect our employees from the hazards of the various raw materials we use. As I said, these procedures are not unique. Our steel customers have as much knowledge, or more, of the dangers of exposure to various refractory dust than ourselves. Since they manage the installation f these materials in their furnaces, they are In the best position to protect their employees, certainly better than ourselves. Steel companies, in. many instances, have very specific proto" cols--for approval of refractories for use in their furnaces. Tnese specificitior.s were developed following much testing by the steel co~*r4-.ie of various refractory brands t-elng offered by r. u me r o. s r-efra rtor y ".prod- re rs. Their specifications are most /v-*%cr* ZfA `y.T? iu\ c t .i* i o, 1 ' J : lto our stale of rcfrcxl'jrici to th'.j, In r..-,:>y Si' lu' r.-vi., th-:sc relr clot y so-.-e i i i ca t i on s have b:vn d*. v-. 1 oj-, j we-. ju < at ion with major engineering conpinios, fjrh as Stoppers, v*.o dCMgr, furnaces themselves. '( In the roid-1970*s, NARCO appointed an industrial hj .nenist to assist us in protecting our employees from th-. i lagers of raw materials and ensuing products. This action was vJxen as a response to the changes that we saw taking place not only in the refractories industry, but also in the steel industry at that point in time. There was great pressure being brought by government agencies at this point in time to also do this. In surer.* ry NARCO has always been interested i*: protecting its employees from the hazards of its raw materials and products, and has attempted to serve our customers by furnishing them with information that would allow them to do likewise. After all, they are in the best position to safeguard their workers' health as.we are in the best position to protect ours. If there is any thing further that I may do along these lines, please let me know. Very truly yours, NORTH AMERICAN REFRACTORIES COMPANY ?.. A. Landy / Director of/Research /