This conference will present the latest information on health, safety and the environment for metal removal fluids, Symposium Chairman John M. Burke, director of engineering services at Houghton International, told Lube Report. Some presentations will be controversial. Its an open exchange of ideas.
Proposed presentations are being peer reviewed prior to acceptance, noted Burke, with over 40 papers approved so far. Organizers have extended the deadline for submissions to later this month.
We want to know whats going on in Europe and elsewhere, Burke continued. For example, boric acid is an issue there but not here [in the United States]. And Canada has issues with nonylphenols and the U.S. does not.
The Symposium will feature six keynote speakers: John Howard, executive director of the U.S. Dept. of Labors National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; Ian Gardner of the U.K.s Health and Safety Executive; Eileen Bonner of Rohm and Haas; Rich Engler from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Tom Grumbles, former president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association; and Bob Gresham of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers.
The first two metalworking fluid symposia were held in 1995 and 1997, in response to worker health and safety issues raised by the United Auto Workers, said Burke. The third symposium, planned for Oct. 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich., will focus on broader aspects with more attention to the environment and sustainability, Burke said.
From 1995 to today is like night and day when it comes to mist levels inmetalworking plants, Burke said. Since 1995, formulators have become very cautious, and fluid management has grown very significantly. Perhaps most important, fully enclosed machines are now commonplace.
The 3rd Symposium on the Assessment and Control of Metal Removal Fluids is sponsored by four organizations: Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association, Alexandria, Va.; Automotive Industry Action Group, Southfield, Mich.; American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, Va.; and UEIL, the Independent Union of the European Lubricants Industry, Brussels, Belgium.
Information about the symposium and registration is available at http://www.mrf2008.org.