Slag, Slag everywhere! Up to 49 ft high!
Is slag toxic? Here is the answer for you.
Taken from a Material Safety Data Sheet for the primary material used in Orcem’s “Green Cement” products.- GBFS
Section 2 – Hazards Identification
Granulated Blast Furnace Slag is hazardous according to the criteria specified in European Directives 67/548/EEC, EU directive 1999/45/EC and OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200.
The categories of Health Hazards as defined in “GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING OF CHEMICALS (GHS), Third revised edition ST/SG/AC.10/30/Rev. 3” United Nations, New York and Geneva, 2009 have been evaluated and are listed below. Refer to Section 3, 8 and 11 for additional information.
Hazard Classification Hazard Category Hazard Symbols Signal Word Hazard Statement Acute Hazards to the Aquatic Environment (covers Categories 1-3)
Hazard Category 1
Warning R50-Very toxic to aquatic life
Acute Toxicity: Inhalation (covers Categories 1-5)
Hazard Category 2
Danger Fatal if inhaled
Skin Irritation (covers Categories 1-3)
Hazard Category 2
Warning Causes Skin Irritation
R38-Irritating to skin
Eye Damage/ Irritation (covers Categories 1, 2A and 2B)
Hazard Category 1
Danger Causes serious eye damage
R41-Risk of serious damage to eyes
Specific Target Organ Systemic Toxicity (STOST)
Following Single Exposure (covers Categories 1-3)
Hazard Category 3
Warning May cause respiratory irritation R36/37/38 – Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin.
Precautionary Statement/Emergency Overview:
S28- After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of water.
S37/39 -Wear protective gloves and eye/face protection.
S61- Avoid release to the environment.
S23- Do not breathe dusts/fume/gas/mist/vapor/spray. Use only outdoors or in a well ventilated area.Wear respiratory protection.
R31 – Contact with acids liberates toxic gas.
Orcem boss says that his product is so benign that he will not require his operators to even wear respirators, while other companies who manufacture similar products state that their employees MUST wear respirators according to OSHA requirements. He will harm his employees or is trying to dupe the public.
Honestly, these “pro” project folks need to educate themselves a little more before shooting off at the mouth. They paint those of us who have been researching “the facts” of this project for the past 18+ months as though we are a bunch of crazy environmentalists who complain about everything. We are professionals in highly regulated industries who know what we are talking about and have seen first hand what happens in laboratory trials & analysis of the harm that certain chemicals and manufacturing processes cause in animals, humans and the environment.