Stay up to date with what you want to know. Caterpillar, a Fortune 500 corporation and construction equipment manufacturer, was cited for one willful violation and fined $145,027 by OSHA, according to OSHA's statement announcing the punishment. Fill out the form below to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Shocking video captured the moment a despondent steel factory worker in China took his own life by jumping into a blast furnace after reportedly losing just over $9,000 in the stock market. Dierkes death was the third in 30 years since Ron had started working there. Wang Long, 34, went missing from a. Word spread fast and people were gathering trying to find out what happened. "I left. 24. A HERO blast furnace worker who rescued colleagues in the 2001 explosion at the Port Talbot steelworks died from burns after falling into a molten slag channel at the plant five . 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Putins former spin doctor-turned-critic dead, Billionaire who killed self mourned by Clintons, Dr. Oz at NYC funeral, Family of nuclear physicist who died by suicide in jail cell sues US Government, Pentagon panel says military bases should stop selling guns to troops under 25 to prevent suicides. TESLA'S TEXAS GIGAFACTORY FACES MORE COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED LABOR VIOLATIONS, "A worker's life could have been spared if Caterpillar had made sure required safety protections were in place, a fact that only adds to this tragedy," OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago said in a statement. Users of Chinas social media platform Weibo expressed their sadness about Wangs death. A disturbing surveillance video allegedly showing a man jumping into a blast furnace and taking his own life has shocked Chinese internet users. He died instantly, but not all of him went in. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: 72-Year-Old Woman Dies Hiking In Park That Authorities Closed Down Years Ago), occupational safety and health administration. In November 2019, OSHA fined Caterpillar $4,337 for a serious health and safety violation at the Mapleton facility. RIP, buddy., Ron, a veteran Caterpillar worker whose name has been changed to protect him from retaliation, told the World Socialist Web Site, He was taking a sample of iron for the met lab and apparently just tripped. The company said Wang went missing March 24 while on night duty at the facility, prompting a search by fellow workers. Steven Dierkes, 39, was killed instantly when he stumbled into . Whose leak is it anyway? Word spread fast and people were gathering trying to find out what happened.. Scott M. Adams' identity was . "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," shared OSHA Area Director Christine Zortman in Peoria. A 39-YEAR-old worker died after falling into a molten iron vat of 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit molten - leaving half of his body lying on the floor. Our melting area is physically connected but operationally independent. All comments will be published anonymously. Caterpillar is facing a $145,000 fine for its role in the death of a 39-year-old man who fell into a pot of molten iron at the company's Illinois foundry. In 2013, a line at our foundry was eliminated. The tragic incident follows the death of 50-year-old Scott Adams, an electrical contractor, who also died after falling in the foundry in 2021. They proposed a fine of $145,027 for foundry operator Caterpillar. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority at all Caterpillar locations around the world.". A 39-year-old Caterpillar worker, Steven Dierkes, died instantly last Thursday after falling into a molten iron crucible at the company's Mapleton, Illinois foundry. Part of his body remained on the deck for the coroner to retrieve. In December 2021, 50-year-old Scott M. Adams also took a fatal plunge in the factory. No foul play is suspected in Dierkes death, but it is still under investigation by the Sheriffs office, coroners office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the PJ Star reported. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. It didnt go away, but the work being done by UAW-represented people did. A 39-year-old worker on just his ninth day on the job at a Caterpillar-operated foundry in Mapleton, Illinois, died after falling into a vat of molten iron. Dierkes, a resident of Peoria, was apparently working near the crucible, where different metals are melted at a temperature of over 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit, when he fell in. 0:57. The horrific death of the employee has raised questions over safety and health violations at the factory among workers and locals. FILE: Construction machines of Caterpillar Inc. (Gen Yuhe/VCG via Getty Images / Getty Images), FOX Business Flash top headlines for November 15. "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.". It is believed Adams stepped off a ladder before falling through a hole in the floor. He died instantly, but not all of him went in. Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Caterpillar, a Fortune 500 corporation and construction equipment manufacturer, was cited for one willful violation and fined $145,027 by OSHA, according to OSHAs statement announcing the punishment. The recent history of OSHA violations point to a pattern of unsafe conditions for workers. Steven's family remembered him as a 'teddy bear of a man' who 'adored' his daughters. A federal investigation determined that, if proper safety guards had been installed, the death could have been avoided, OSHA said. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority., Dierkes reportedly fell just before 10 am, and an anonymous employee told the World Socialist Web Site, that Dierkes was taking a sample of iron for the met lab and apparently just tripped.. They dropped a 10-ton hook and block from an overhead gantry crane on a man during the strike, he said of the first fatality decades ago. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The unidentified worker explained: He died instantly, but not all of him went in. One worker who suffered an injury after falling over a trip hazard was fired by the company. In January 2019, OSHA fined Caterpillar $10,419 for an incident where a workers finger was severed on the job at the facility. Wang Long . MAPLETON, Ill. (Gray News) A Caterpillar employee was immediately incinerated when he fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. One of them being, if the hooks fall out of the block or gating or whatever just get back and let it all fall. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. His co-workers said he had been trading stocks and futures for a long time. It was only his ninth day on the job, OSHA said. An Illinois man died instantly after he allegedly fell into a vat of molten iron in early June. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "We implore employers to review the agency specific regulations to protect workers from falls into equipment in industrial settings.". He lost more than one million yuan (equivalent to 152,000 US dollars) on the stock exchange, the police said in a statement. Following Adams incident, Caterpillar released a statement toNBC Chicagosaying an investigation was underway and the company was deeply saddened., The company said: Our thoughts are with the workers family, friends and colleagues., The Mapleton Foundry is described onCaterpillars websiteas one of the largest in the United States., Caterpillar explains: It can melt up to 1,000 tons of iron each day to produce finished castings ranging from 15lb liners to 22,000lb cylinder blocks.. "A worker's life could have been spared if Caterpillar had made sure required safety protections were in place, a fact that only adds to this tragedy," expressed OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. These components are the foundation for the companys 115-6,600hp (86- 4,920 kW) engine platforms, the company adds. He said it must have been ghastly for those folks that witnessed it and to wait for the coroner with half of their coworker lying on the floor. International Committee of the Fourth International. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Caterpillar workers: We want to hear from you. A 39-year-old employee on their ninth day of work at a Caterpillar foundry in Illinois fell into a melting pot of iron "and was immediately incinerated," authorities said. The foundry at Mapleton produces multiple engine castings using various combinations of metals, which are poured into various molds in different pour zones that produce engine blocks, heads, liners and other manufacturing components. The crane began moving and struck the employee. He sustained six broken ribs. While the new worker was on his probationary period for training, he was fired for reporting a part that fell out of a fixture, causing him a minor injury. Chris Watkins said. Anobituary for Dierkes, via PJ Star, notes the worker passed away at 9:23 a.m. from a workplace accident.. He just disappeared instantly, a worker who saw the surveillance footage told the Xiaoxiang Morning Post. We've received your submission. The family of Caleb Otieno, an employee of Thika-based Blue Nile Rolling Mills Ltd, who was killed after he fell into a vat of molten steel last month, is entangled in a row . . Federal safety regulations require employers to install guardrails and restraint systems to protect workers from falls into dangerous equipment like Dierkes suffered. "A worker's life could have been spared if Caterpillar had made sure required safety protections were in place, a fact that only adds to this tragedy," said OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. Dierkes was only on the ninth day of his new job when he died. 0:00. "We implore employers to review the agency specific regulations to protect workers from falls into equipment in industrial settings.". In a perfunctory and hollow statement, a spokesperson for Caterpillar stated, We are deeply saddened by the death of an employee who was involved in a serious incident at our Mapleton, Illinois, facility on June 2. The company was established in 1867 in the Nicetown area of Germantown, Philadelphia by William Butcher. Sign up for notifications from Insider! I dont know what time it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was sent home. MAPLETON, Ill. Caterpillar Inc. is facing proposed fines of more than $145,000 after a federal investigation concluded that the construction-equipment manufacturer failed to install necessary. It must have been ghastly for those folks that witnessed it and to wait for the coroner with half of their coworker lying on the floor., The worker, called Ron to protect his identity claims the death occurred on one of the large melters in the main foundry melting area.. Ron said of Adams death that he was surprised one of the local stations actually had the audacity to point out the death of a contractor only last December in our facility. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational. The horrific death of Dierkes follows that of 50-year-old Scott Adams, an electrical contractor, who also fell to his death in the foundry on December 23, 2021. I've moved away from my family. So, I guess that's somewhat comforting. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) broke the news Wednesday, revealing it was only the 39-year-old's ninth day on the job. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this is that the man survived at . Steve Dierkes, a 39-year-old employee and melting specialist at a Caterpillar foundry which produces cast iron engine components in Mapleton, Illinois, was immediately incinerated after falling into the huge tub of molten iron that was heated to approximately twice the temperature of volcanic lava on June 2 earlier this year. Steven Dierkes, the 39-year-old employee of a Mapleton foundry, fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to more 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and was "immediately incinerated." It was. The dad-of-threes death comes six months after another deadly fall at the Mapleton foundry. This was told to the union official down at that particular place of employment. Investigators with OSHA found that the foundry regularly exposed employees to unprotected fall hazards as they worked close to deep containers of molten iron. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Industrial accident: Man falls into machine while at work. If required safety guards or fall protection had been installed, the 39-year-old employee's ninth day on the job might not have been their last.. Mr. Tiller, who had just finished on the shift that ended at 7 a.m., heard the fire alarm. A worker fell into a pool of 720C molten aluminium at a factory - but somehow he survived. THIS IS the horrifying moment a desperate factory worker jumped into a super-heated 900C steel furnace after allegedly losing 6,000 on the stock market. The UAW has done nothing to stop the increasing safety hazards happening, as the repeat violations and injuries at the facility reveal. 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