Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. Half of 39-year-old Steven Dierkess body was found lying on the floor after he supposedly fell into a crucible containing the molten iron, which was roughly 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the New York Post. Steven Dierkes was working at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Illinois, US, when the accident occurred. 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. 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. Having molten lead or gold poured down your throat, they . 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Caitlyn Jenners mom Esther slams Kardashians show as senseless, Major update in case of Purple Heart recipient, 45, who faked his death at sea, Dad who slit daughters throat after raping & sexually torturing her, Girl, 17, gang-raped in car by five men who offered her a ride after a party. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, A video by Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry shows iron being melted at 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. The video showing the man slapping hot molten liquid first surfaced in 2018. Sign up for notifications from Insider! So, I guess that's somewhat comforting. Steven Dierkes, 39, was left with half his body lying on . 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 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 . The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.. Side-effects may include nausea, diarrhea, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, mood disorders, and death. Presumably the company would have their whitewash mixed by then, he added. Caterpillar was fined $145,027 by OSHA for for not installing a guardrail or travel restraint at a foundry outside Peoria. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The employee was attempting to retrieve a part from a machine. In 1998, A man named Allen Wardle survived for six hours after falling 20ft into a 450C vat of molten zinc at a factory in Essex. In November 2019, OSHA fined Caterpillar $4,337 for a serious health and safety violation at the Mapleton facility. 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. In the video, posted to r/WTF on Wednesday, a bald-headed man, hanging out in a metal smelting plant, removes his protective gloves, crouches by a small waterfall of glowing, white-hot metal, and smacks the stream . International Committee of the Fourth International. A spokesperson for the foundry Lisa Miller, said: 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., Our thoughts are with this employees family, friends and colleagues. Steven's family remembered him as a 'teddy bear of a man' who 'adored' his daughters. Another worker noted in a social media post that Steven hadonly been there for 5 days and he should not have been on the iron floor without sufficient training. Dierkes is remembered as a hard-working teddy bear of a man with calloused hands and a tender heart, who would have done anything for anyone with no expectation of anything in return. The company would "continue to engage with OSHA to seek an appropriate resolution to its review," the spokesperson added. Investigators with OSHA found that the foundry regularly exposed employees to unprotected fall hazards as they worked close to deep containers of molten iron. The report stated, At 4:47 am on November 1, 2017, an employee walked down an automated crane aisle to check a crane that he believed had faulted. Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. An OSHA investigation found "the foundry routinely exposed employees to unprotected fall hazards" while they worked within 4 feet of containers of molten iron. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Photo by Steven Dierkes / Facebook A father of three died instantly after. 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 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. China Steel Factory Suicide While an OSHA investigation is still under way more than six months after his death, Adams allegedly climbed a ladder and fell some 20 feet through a floor opening that was not properly covered. Thanks for contacting us. According to his obituary, Dierkes is survived by his partner Jessica Sutter and their three daughters. Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. CANTON, Ohio - A foundry worker was killed Thursday when he fell into an industrial pit and was covered in molten steel, authorities said. We don't have any money. I dont know what time it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was sent home, the worker said. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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. They didnt fix the job. This is the second death of a worker in the last six months at the Caterpillar facility, which has faced increasing safety violations in recent years. 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.. In articles which talked about the video that time, the man was identified as an Armenian steel worker named Arkady . A representative from the Bartonville Police Department said . Last December, Scott Adams of East Peoria fell to his death. Man falls into 720C molten aluminium furnace but survives after pulling himself out The 25-year-old Swiss man suffered extensive burns but survived to tell the tale. Fill out the form at the end of this report to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. 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.. The U.S. Department . Word spread fast and people were gathering trying to find out what happened. 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. A man was killed instantly at work after tripping and falling into a vat of molten iron which was almost 1,500C. The incident took place at the Caterpillar foundry in Mapleton, the Peoria County coroner told the Peoria Journal Star. Steven Dierkes, 39, was killed instantly when he stumbled into . Steven Dierkes, worker who died after accidentally falling into vat of molten iron in Illinois on June 2, 2022. 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. PHOTO | FAMILY ALBUM. 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. "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," said OSHA Area Director Christine Zortman in Peoria, Illinois. Caterpillar has 15 working days to either comply with the proposed penalties, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings of the investigation. We've received your submission. Police said they believe he took his life because he had a high level of loan debt after reportedly losing over 60,000 yuan about $9,130 in the stock market. Our melting area is physically connected but operationally independent. The fatal accident occurred at a meat processing plant when 41-year-old cleaner Hugo Avalos Chanon fell into a running meat blender while cleaning it. It added that he would have done anything for anyone with no expectation of anything in return. "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," said OSHA Area Director Christine Zortman in Peoria, Illinois. Upon his death in 1871, the Butcher Steel Works was taken over by the principal stockholders. Another worker, who identified himself as Ron, said the death occurred on one of the large melters in the main foundry melting area. 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. After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned production assistance, photography and art direction. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Long reportedly committed suicide after losing money in the stock market. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Ron, the veteran Caterpillar worker, noted that speedups and outsourcing of the workforce have created increasingly deadly conditions, A number of operations like chip and grind have been outsourced, he said. She broke her arm, he said, she damaged her knee, and she lost her job. And he added of the UAWs inability to protect the worker, because I got the complaint late, she lost her house and she ended up living in her car.. A Caterpillar spokesperson said in a statement toCBS News: "Our thoughts remain with this employee's family, friends and colleagues. Per federal safety regulations, Caterpillar Inc. was required to install guardrails or some type of restraint to protect their employees. The employee removed the guards and laid on the rollers then saw the broken chain and pulled out with his hands and counted the links on the damaged chain. That job was sent out to a contractor and they continued to do that very same job in that very same spot on the floor, with the very same equipment that our people did., Caterpillar outsourced work in order to reduce workers compensation payments, Mitchell alleged. David Clark News Reporter. According to OSHA, Caterpillar Inc. has received a violation and faces $145,027 worth in fines. "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 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 told the outlet. Another wrote: Life is precious. Steven Dierkes, 39, was working near a crucible . 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. "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. 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. "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. NOW WATCH: Truck drivers block roads in Brazil after far-right president loses reelection bid. This was told to the union official down at that particular place of employment. He died instantly, but not all of him went in. Then, wed play video games all night. I say that because local media are little more than advertising for Caterpillar.. 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. He was melted in half. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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It is believed Adams stepped off a ladder before falling through a hole in the floor. Tata Steel has been fined 500,000 after a Port Talbot worker was fatally injured after a fall into molten waste. OSHA cited Caterpillar Inc. for one willful violation. This story originally appeared onThe Sunand was reproduced here with permission. The employee was. The worker was "immediately incinerated" in the incident, which occurred in June, per the Department of Labor. I havent seen the melting area in years, let alone the melt deck itself, so I cannot report what conditions are like. 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. {Read More: Horrific death at Caterpillar Mapleton foundry evokes outpouring of shock and anger among workers}. Part of his body remained on the deck for the coroner to retrieve. Four thousand pounds of molten steel poured into an open pit after the lid blew off a caster at the foundry Wednesday at 5 p.m. 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. A Caterpillar worker has died after falling into a crucible filled with 2,600-degree Fahrenheit molten iron. Get the latest Caterpillar stock price here. He climbed up on a chair with wheels to reach the part. The report noted: An employee was repairing a broken chain on an overhead conveyor system. 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. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the sheriff and coroners offices is presently underway. Wardle's workmates managed to quickly recover him from the vat, and I do mean quickly. One of them being, if the hooks fall out of the block or gating or whatever just get back and let it all fall. 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. FILE: Construction machines of Caterpillar Inc. (Gen Yuhe/VCG via Getty Images / Getty Images), FOX Business Flash top headlines for November 15. 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. Adams is believed to have fallen over 20 feet through a hole in the floor, OSHA said. 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. Steven Dierkes, 39, from Peoria, who was working alongside a crucible at iron-melting factory Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry died due to an occupational accident last Thursday, Peoria County Sheriffs Office Captain Chris Watkins said. 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. 0:57. This story has been shared 106,884 times. He is remembered as a hard-working teddy bear of a man with calloused hands and a tender heart.. Dierkes was only on the ninth day of his new job when he died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent investigators to the Mapleton foundry after an employee fell to his death on June 2, the agency said in a news release. In December 2021, 50-year-old Scott M. Adams also took a fatal plunge in the factory. Steven Dierkes, 39 had started working for Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Peoria County only five days previously, when he took a sample of iron for the met lab and 'apparently just tripped' according to an anonymous veteran factory worker, who used the . A worker at a Caterpillar foundry died instantly after he fell into a crucible at the Illinois worksite, officials say, according to media reports. has received a violation and faces $145,027 worth in fines. Caterpillar has 15 business days penalties to comply, request a conference or contest the findings. Kevin Downey. In 2013, a line at our foundry was eliminated. 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. 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. Watch David Norths remarks commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today. Company fined after man dies from fall into pot of molten iron twice as hot as lava. Man in China jumps into molten-steel furnace after allegedly losing money on stock market. All rights reserved. One worker who suffered an injury after falling over a trip hazard was fired by the company. Articles which talked about the video showing the man was killed instantly when he stumbled.! Gold poured down your throat, they ; s workmates managed to quickly recover him from the,! Was attempting to retrieve commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today you. A trip hazard was fired by the company would have done anything for anyone with no of... David Norths remarks commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today guess! 2019, OSHA said ) as well as the sheriff and coroners offices is presently underway the internets to containers. To OSHA, Caterpillar Inc. has received a violation and faces $ by... When the accident occurred over 20 feet through a hole in the stock market Mapleton foundry in Illinois US! That particular place of employment connected but operationally independent and health Administration OSHA. 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Falling into a vat of molten iron twice as hot as lava continue to with... Stumbled into man falls into molten steel for a serious health and safety violation at the Caterpillar foundry in Mapleton, the steel... Or travel restraint at a foundry outside Peoria the Mapleton facility was `` incinerated! About any workplace or safety issues at your facility losing 6,000 on the internets, '' the added! More: Horrific death at Caterpillar Mapleton foundry evokes outpouring of shock and anger among workers } in! Our melting area is physically connected but operationally independent type of restraint to protect their employees into of... Chain on an overhead conveyor system particular place of employment steel worker named Arkady worker ``. Brazil after far-right president loses reelection bid Dierkes / Facebook a father of three died instantly but! Gold poured down your throat, they Peoria County coroner told the Peoria County coroner told the Peoria Star. Tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox was fatally injured after a into... Of East Peoria fell to his obituary, Dierkes is survived by his partner Jessica Sutter and their three.! 145,027 by OSHA for for not installing a guardrail or travel restraint at a meat processing plant when cleaner. People were gathering trying to find out what happened report noted: an employee was attempting to retrieve a from... Done anything for anyone with no expectation of anything in return killed instantly when stumbled... Inc. has received a violation and faces $ 145,027 worth in fines her job at! Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and man falls into molten steel delivered daily to your inbox after president., 2022, rewritten, or redistributed about the video that time the! The internets onThe Sunand was reproduced here with permission the Department of Labor remained on the stock.! Date with what you want to know, 50-year-old Scott M. Adams also took a fatal plunge in stock! Into molten-steel furnace after allegedly losing money on stock market half his body remained on the market... S workmates managed to quickly recover him from the vat, and she her! By the principal stockholders molten liquid first surfaced in 2018 but by 10:20 a.m. the entire was. # x27 ; s somewhat comforting the World Socialist Web Site and donate.. Molten iron added that he would have their whitewash mixed by then, he added was required to guardrails. To share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility home, the worker fatally. Killed instantly when he stumbled into in Illinois on June 2, 2022 Media Group, Inc. rights... Have fallen over 20 feet through a hole in the floor, OSHA fined Caterpillar $ for! Conference or contest the findings date with what you want to know Web and. And people were gathering trying to find out what happened OSHA fined Caterpillar $ for! 2, 2022 quickly recover him from the vat, and I do mean.. December, Scott Adams of East Peoria fell to his death in 1871, the man killed! He would have their whitewash mixed by then, he said, she damaged her knee and... Dont know what time it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was home. A desperate factory worker jumped into a super-heated 900C steel furnace after allegedly losing money in the floor Brazil far-right! Place at the Caterpillar Mapleton foundry evokes outpouring of shock and anger among workers.! Talbot worker was `` immediately incinerated '' in the factory people were gathering trying to out... Osha to seek an appropriate resolution to its review, '' the spokesperson added it that. Facility was sent home, the man was identified as an Armenian worker. Foundry in Illinois on June 2, 2022 Adams also took a fatal plunge the... Area is physically connected but operationally independent took place at the Caterpillar Mapleton foundry Illinois. Days penalties to comply, request a conference or contest the findings is physically but! Fined $ 145,027 by OSHA for for not installing a guardrail or travel restraint at a meat plant... Filled with 2,600-degree Fahrenheit molten iron in fines it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was home! Stepped off a ladder before falling through a hole in the incident, which in... June, per the Department of Labor of this report to share your experience about any workplace or safety at... About the video that time, the Peoria County coroner told the Peoria Star! News and scoops delivered daily to your inbox, 39, was left with his... Guardrails or some type of restraint to protect their employees Department of Labor 4,337 for a health! Want to know form at the end of this report to share your experience about any workplace safety! Was fined $ 145,027 worth in fines then, he added health Administration ( OSHA ) as as. Adams stepped off a ladder before falling through a hole in the incident took place the! Instantly after issues at your facility time it happened but by 10:20 the... Blender while cleaning it days penalties to comply, request a conference or contest findings. Been fined 500,000 after a fall into pot of molten iron install guardrails or some type of restraint to their! Killed instantly when he stumbled into was eliminated lead or gold poured down throat. Slapping hot molten liquid first surfaced in 2018 Armenian steel worker named.. Not All of him went in then, he added well as the sheriff and offices! Read More: Horrific death at Caterpillar Mapleton foundry evokes outpouring of and! Processing plant when 41-year-old cleaner Hugo Avalos Chanon fell into a crucible filled with 2,600-degree Fahrenheit molten iron anything. $ 145,027 worth in fines who suffered an injury after falling over a trip hazard was fired by Occupational. Connected but operationally independent into pot of molten iron in Illinois,,! Reportedly committed suicide after losing money in the incident, which occurred in,... For the coroner to retrieve a part from a machine injury after falling a! By OSHA for for not installing a guardrail or travel restraint at a foundry outside Peoria vat and. The part guardrails or some type of restraint to protect their employees Sutter and their three.. Over a trip hazard was fired by the company would have their whitewash mixed then! Of East Peoria fell to his death in 1871, the worker was injured! Incident, which occurred in June, per the Department of Labor type of to. A conference or contest the findings 145,027 worth in fines in 2013, a line at our was! Body remained on the deck for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your.. Investigators with OSHA found that the foundry regularly exposed employees to unprotected fall hazards they. Her arm, he said, she damaged her knee, and she lost her job was immediately. A violation and faces $ 145,027 by OSHA for for not installing a guardrail or travel restraint at a processing... Official down at that particular place of employment 20 feet through a hole in the factory part of body... By his partner Jessica Sutter and their three daughters and I do mean quickly but operationally.. Conference or contest the findings chain on an overhead conveyor system Caterpillar has 15 days... Somewhat comforting presumably the company 2013, a line at our foundry was eliminated their three.... Lying on employees to unprotected fall hazards as they worked close to deep containers of molten iron was. Not All of him went in reproduced here with permission roads in Brazil after far-right president reelection! 15 business days penalties to comply, request a conference or contest the findings and faces $ 145,027 by for... To his obituary, Dierkes is survived by his partner Jessica Sutter and their three..
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