One worker who suffered an injury after falling over a trip hazard was fired by the company. "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," he added. 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. We feel deeply sorry for his death. "Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the foundry routinely exposed employees to unprotected fall hazards as they worked within four feet of deep ceramic containers of super-heated molten iron," OSHA said in a statement. 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. Word spread fast and people were gathering trying to find out what happened.. A father-of-three died when he fell into a vat of molten iron, a coroner has said. Thanks for contacting us. Although falling into a pool of molten metal would be severely painful, our pain receptors overload at temperatures above 60 C (140 F) and become numb. Per federal safety regulations, Caterpillar Inc. was required to install guardrails or some type of restraint to protect their employees. Scott M. Adams' identity was . He was melted in half. He just disappeared instantly, a worker who saw the surveillance footage told the Xiaoxiang Morning Post. OSHA said in a news release Wednesday that the death of the 39-year-old employee happened on June 2 at a Caterpillar foundry in central Illinois, which produces cast iron engine components. According to OSHA, Caterpillar Inc. has received a violation and faces $145,027 worth in fines. Dierkes' death was the second to occur at the Mapleton foundry in six months. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.. The union has also done nothing to protect workers from the unsafe conditions workers face since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The UAW betrayed two strikes by Caterpillar workers, in 1991-1992 and in a protracted 17-month-long strike in 1994-1995, which ended with the imposition of the hated two-tier system and a 30 percent cut in wages for new hires by 1998. A service celebrating his life will take place on June 9, 2022, at noon in Bloomington, Illinois. Fill out the form at the end of this report to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. What are we going to do? He was fired for not letting the part fall., Mitchell reported that since Caterpillar eliminated a line at the foundry in 2013, the company made the conditions even more dangerous. In 2013, a line at our foundry was eliminated. Place is dangerous AF and doesn't leave much room for stupid even with all the safety regs. One of the worlds biggest manufacturers of industrial vehicles and equipment has been cited and penalized for the death of a worker who fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to more than 2,000 degrees this summer. In April 2020, a 47-year-old man also committed suicide in China for similar reasons by jumping from a high-rise building in a hospital in the city of Putian, the news outlet reported. Skip to content. More than 800 people are employed at the Caterpillar foundry in Mapleton, Illinois, and the foundry manufactures engine components used for construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives, according to OSHA. Upon his death in 1871, the Butcher Steel Works was taken over by the principal stockholders. IRVING, Texas A Caterpillar Inc. employee is dead after he fell into a pot full of molten iron heated to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. These components are the foundation for the companys 115-6,600hp (86- 4,920 kW) engine platforms, the company adds. "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.". So, I guess that's somewhat comforting. A worker at a Caterpillar foundry died instantly after he fell into a crucible at the Illinois worksite, officials say, according to media reports. 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. 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. According to his obituary, Dierkes is survived by his partner Jessica Sutter and their three daughters. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. One of the world's biggest manufacturers of industrial vehicles and equipment has been cited and penalized for the death of a worker who fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to more than 2,000 degrees this summer. A federal investigation determined that, if proper safety guards had been installed, the death could have been avoided, OSHA said. In 2020, OSHA fined theCaterpillar Mapleton facility $5,750 for a serious safety violation concerning fall protection systems and falling objects. The full details have not been made public by OSHA. Full details have not been released by OSHA for either case. An Illinois man died instantly after he allegedly fell into a vat of molten iron in early June. The incident happened on Thursday, June 2, at Caterpillar's facility in Mapleton in Central Illinois, Peoria County coroner Jamie Harwood 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., The worker, called Ron to protect his identity claims the death occurred on one of the large melters in the main foundry melting area.. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.. The incident occurred at Caterpillar's foundry in Mapleton, Illinois on June 2, 2022. Wardle's workmates managed to quickly recover him from the vat, and I do mean quickly. Kevin Downey. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. Tata Steel has been fined 500,000 after a Port Talbot worker was fatally injured after a fall into molten waste. A foundry worker in Mapleton, Illinois, died in June after falling into a vat of molten iron. I was working with a guy shaking out 3600 diesel blocks with a 50 ton bridge crane once and gave him a run down of what not to do. the sellout of Caterpillar workers by the UAW, Sellout at Arconic: The latest showdown between workers and the unions, The UAW betrayal at Caterpillar and the case for rank-and-file committees, US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 5,333 workers died on the job in 2019, or one every 99 minutes, As workers mourn death of Sterling Stamping worker Terry Garr, few facts made public. Caterpillar workers: Wed like to hear from you. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This is the second death. Dierkes death remains under investigation by the Peoria County Coroners office, the Sheriffs Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. China Steel Factory Suicide Tom Wood. An Illinois foundry worker died following an accidental fall into 1,400-degrees Celsius molten iron crucible, which burned half of his body. In December 2021, 50-year-old Scott M. Adams also took a fatal plunge in the factory. PEOPLE. 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.. He climbed up on a chair with wheels to reach the part. A friend of mine worked for a company down in Florida that would pour concrete sea walls, their company was violated for the same issues multiple times, no deaths had even occurred and some individual fines were $400,000 and this was over 10 years ago. Another Caterpillar worker moved his wife and eight children from Oklahoma to find work at the Mapleton facility. The death occurred on one of the large melters in the main foundry melting area, Ron said. A disturbing surveillance video allegedly showing a man jumping into a blast furnace and taking his own life has shocked Chinese internet users. I've moved away from my family. 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. Fill out the form below to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. Share your story ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez@kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Kevin Downey, 49, fell five years after being hailed a hero for his actions after . NOW WATCH: Truck drivers block roads in Brazil after far-right president loses reelection bid. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Steven Dierkes, 39, from Peoria, who was working alongside a crucible at iron-melting factory. The U.S. Department . Steven's family remembered him as a 'teddy bear of a man' who 'adored' his daughters. IRVING, Texas A Caterpillar Inc. employee is dead after he fell into a pot full of molten iron heated to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. PHOTO | FAMILY ALBUM. A 39-year-old Caterpillar worker, Steven Dierkes, died instantly last Thursday after falling into a molten iron crucible at the companys Mapleton, Illinois foundry. Federal investigatorssay that inadequate safety protections may have contributed to the worker's death and propose to fine the foundry operator Caterpillar of $145,027. It was really tough to sit there and hand the guy Kleenexes in my office as he cried, and he talked about, What am I going to do now? On Dec. 17, 1997, while working at Steel Dynamics in Butler, Miller fell into a 5-foot-deep vat of 950-degree zinc. Wang Long, 34, went missing from a night shift at the Chinese steel factory where he worked before surveillance footage revealed the disturbing chain of events leading to his death. 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. "I left. A 50-year-old East Peoria man working at the Caterpillar Inc. Mapleton foundry fell to his death Thursday, according to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office. The employee placed his hands, one finger to pick up the chain next to the sprocket and received a finger amputation., Caterpillar was fined $25,868 in November 2017 for a safety violation. This story originally appeared onThe Sunand was reproduced here with permission. He died instantly, but not all of him went in. The company would "continue to engage with OSHA to seek an appropriate resolution to its review," the spokesperson added. Everyone likes a good party trick, but the star of a viral Reddit video set a new standard for mind-boggling stunts when he passed his bare hand through a stream of molten metal. Caterpillar did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, sent outside normal working hours. 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. Anobituary for Dierkes, via PJ Star, notes the worker passed away at 9:23 a.m. from a workplace accident.. Whose leak is it anyway? Those injuries are still happening.. Legal Statement. "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. The electrician fell tumbled into a furnace filled with the melted metal while at work in St. 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. 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. In January 2019, OSHA fined Caterpillar $10,419 for an incident where a workers finger was severed on the job at the facility. The unidentified worker explained: He died instantly, but not all of him went in. -Caleb Fernndez is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. Steven Dierkes was working at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Illinois, US, when the accident occurred. Our melting area is physically connected but operationally independent. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) _ Three workers plunged from a platform into a pit full of molten steel and died and five other employees were injured in the accident at the Johnstown Corp. steel plant. Peoria County deputies were called to the facility around 10am last week when a man fell into a vat of molten iron at 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and died on the spot. Dierkes was only on the ninth day of his new job when he died. Steven Dierkes, 39, was left with half his body lying on a factory floor after he . Market data provided byFactset. Caterpillar has 15 business days from the time of OSHA's citation to either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director to discuss the matter further or contest the findings and citation in front of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 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. 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. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US . A 25-year-old electrician has had a miracle escape after falling into a furnace filled with liquid aluminium at 720C/1,328F.Incredibly, despite the searing p. "We implore employers to review the agency specific regulations to protect workers from falls into equipment in industrial settings.". Last December, Scott Adams of East Peoria fell to his death. "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's regional administrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. The Mapleton, Illinois Caterpillar facility has been the site of numerous safety and health violations in the past 30 years since the sellout of Caterpillar workers by the UAW in the 1990s. Harwood said the Thursday incident which took place at theCaterpillarMapleton Foundry was accidental and no foul play is suspected, thePeoria Journal Starreports. Our thoughts are with this employees family, friends and colleagues. The incident happened on Thursday, June 2, at . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Swiss man survives after falling into molten aluminium The 25-year-old electrician fell through a trapdoor into a vat of burning hot metal, but somehow managed to pull himself out and is now being treated for his burns in hospital. Side-effects may include nausea, diarrhea, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, mood disorders, and death. 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. One of the world's biggest manufacturers of industrial vehicles and equipment has been cited and penalized for the death of a worker who fell into an 11-foot-deep pot of molten iron heated to more . One of them being, if the hooks fall out of the block or gating or whatever just get back and let it all fall. He fell onto a concrete floor. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. 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. He had allegedly lost more than 60,000 yuan (S$12,281) on Mar. Company fined after man dies from fall into pot of molten iron twice as hot as lava. Steven Dierkes, 39, was working near a crucible . The employee was hospitalized with multiple fractures and body trauma., In July 2017, Caterpillar was fined $5,079 for an incident in which a worker sustained six broken ribs. He allegedly fell 20 feet while climbing a ladder. . Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The BBC's Joe Campbell reports: Alan Wardour, of Higham, Kent, suffered 100% burns when he fell into the vat containing molten metal heated to 400C. I received a text from my boss early evening last night that we were not to return to work until Monday. We are proactively appeasing the emotions of his family and carrying out psychological guidance for our workers, the company said in a statement, according to the South China Morning Post. FILE: Construction machines of Caterpillar Inc. (Gen Yuhe/VCG via Getty Images / Getty Images), FOX Business Flash top headlines for November 15. Journal Starreports ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez @ kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn,,... Death remains under investigation by the principal stockholders do mean quickly iron-melting factory loses bid. Early June LinkedIn, Instagram, and I do mean quickly a fatal plunge in factory. Lying on a chair with wheels to reach the part from you at your facility fell... But operationally independent at the man falls into molten steel facility the job at the end of report... 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