The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Caterpillar for Occupational Safety and Health Act violations after an employee at one of its foundries fell into molten iron in June.
According to an OSHA news release, the 39-year-old worker, Steven Dierkes, was only nine days into his job as a melting specialist at Caterpillar’s foundry in Mapleton, Illinois, when he fell into an 11-foot-deep vat of molten iron heated to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
When Dierkes fell into the furnace while removing a sample of molten iron, he was “immediately incinerated.”
Steven Dierkes died instantly following the incident at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry, with his body splitting in half in front of his colleagues after hitting the scorching hot vathttps://t.co/6gDU0YdXSt
— Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) June 9, 2022
OSHA later conducted an investigation into the foundry.
The agency’s investigators discovered that employees at the foundry were “routinely” exposed to “unprotected fall hazards” while working with four-foot-deep ceramic containers holding molten iron.
“A worker’s life could have been saved if Caterpillar had ensured that required safety protections were in place, which only adds to this tragedy,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan.
“Producing more than 150,000 tons each year, Caterpillar’s foundry is one of the nation’s largest, and they should be acutely aware of industry regulations to protect workers using smelters and other dangerous equipment,” Donovon added.
Caterpillar Inc. was cited by OSHA for one willful violation of 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(6) (i).
Employers must protect employees working “less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment… from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by [installing] a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard,” according to the violated policy.
The agency proposed $145,027 in fines against the company.
“Caterpillar’s failure to meet its legal responsibilities to ensure the safety and health of workers leaves this worker’s family, friends, and co-workers to grieve needlessly,” OSHA Area Director Christine Zortman said.
“We implore employers to review the agency-specific regulations to protect workers from falls into equipment in industrial settings,” Zortman added.
According to the company website, the Mapleton Foundry is one of Caterpillar’s largest such facilities in the United States, employing approximately 800 people and melting 1,000 tons of iron daily.
Another accident occurred at the plant a year ago.
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office reported on Dec. 23, 2021, that around 9:40 a.m. that day, deputies responded to reports that a 50-year-old worker had died after falling from a significant height at the plant.
The deceased employee worked for a local contractor hired by Caterpillar.
Caterpillar spokeswoman Lisa Miller said in a statement shared with the New York Post that the company was “deeply saddened” by Dierkes’ demise.
“Our thoughts remain with this employee’s family, friends and colleagues,” she added. “The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority at all Caterpillar locations around the world. Regarding the serious safety incident that occurred, we will continue to engage with OSHA to seek an appropriate resolution to its review.”
