AFS NEWS
AFS Staff Introduces Metalcasting to Fifth-and Sixth-Grade Girls On February 4, 250 fifth- and
sixth-grade girls were given a metalcasting presentation on Feb. 4, as part of Illinois high school District 211’s annual GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) Conference. The goal of GEMS events is to
boost girls’ enthusiasm about careers in those fields and introduce them to female role models from different industries at a younger age. To demonstrate the basic con- cepts of metalcasting and what takes place in a metalcasting facility, AFS gave a make-your-own-casting demonstration to the participants. Each participant got to pour their own metal part to take home as a keepsake from their experience. Six AFS employees, Shelly
Dutler, Laura Kasch, Pam Lasilla, Katie Matticks, Jennifer Morton and Sue Thomas, helped facilitate
AFS staff introduce metalcasting at the annual GEMS event in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
AFS Releases Silica Compliance Seminar Video AFS is making available the
proceedings from a specialized train- ing workshop that provides the tools metalcasters need to navigate OSHA’s respirable silica rule. The presentations, given by silica
and regulatory experts, come in an adapted recording of the two-day
AFS Silica Compliance Seminar held in January and contain more than seven hours of material cover- ing the new regulations on respi- rable silica dust. Te seminar provides details on the
new law, measurement requirements, sampling methodology, regulated
the demonstrations at the 2017 GEMS conference at James B.
Conant High School, (Hoffman Estates, Illinois.)
areas, medical surveillance, respirators, and how to develop a written compli- ance control program. AFS provides the seminar as a
resource to help metalcasters comply with the new regulations. To purchase the video, visit the online AFS store at
afsinc.org.
Research Proposals to Reduce Silica Exposure Sought
AFS is soliciting research propos- als aimed at reducing exposure to respirable crystalline silica through the development of silica suppres- sant materials and processes in criti- cal areas of metalcasting facilities. The new regulations for silica
sand respirable dust in U.S. met- alcasting facilities take effect in summer 2018. While AFS is pursu- ing a legal challenge to the new silica rules, the metalcasting indus- try must also begin actively planning compliance strategy to be ready for
76 | MODERN CASTING March 2017
the rules. As part of this strategy, a new AFS ad hoc committee has been formed to look at the impact of the new silica rule on metalcasting facilities and the supply chain. This new committee is soliciting
proposals to develop materials and processes for suppression of silica dust in critical areas of metalcasting operations. Most metalcasting facili- ties have identified the critical areas to be machining and shakeout. Dust suppressants are commercially avail- able but many have an adverse ef-
fect, such as reduced tensile strength in cores when used in the core room. While these suppressants will reduce visible dust, the effect on respirable silica is somewhat unknown and requires additional study. Research proposals for potential
suppressants, procedures, and de- vices will be accepted. Send propos- als to AFS senior technical director Steve Robison at
stever@afsinc.org. For further information or ques- tions, call Robison at 847-824-0181 x227.
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