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. Legal Statement. In an exchange in 2016 between a UAW safety representative and OSHA, it was revealed that Caterpillar frequently retaliated against employees who reported safety violations, while the UAW did practically nothing. 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. Whose leak is it anyway? Part of his body remained on the deck for the coroner to retrieve., Steven Dierkes, 39, is survived by his partner Jessica Sutter and their three daughters. Skip to content. Steven Dierkes, 39, was taking a sample from the 1,400C crucible when he tripped and fell in, killing him. A 39-year-old worker tragically died after falling into a vat of molten iron which was almost 1,500C. No foul play is suspected in the incident, coronerJamie Harwood said, adding that the matter is under investigation by the sheriffs office and occupational safety and health administration, reported Peoria Journal Star. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.. "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. Caterpillars production demands almost invariably lead to accidents due to rushing.. {Read More: The death of Steven Dierkes: A victim of Americas industrial slaughterhouse}, Steven Dierkes lived down the street from me when we were kids, said Jermaine Pigee, who mourned his friends death in a social media post. 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. A Caterpillar spokesperson said in a statement toCBS News: "Our thoughts remain with this employee's family, friends and colleagues. 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. 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. Caterpillar has 15 business days penalties to comply, request a conference or contest the findings. 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. A father-of-three was killed instantly at work following an accident involving molten iron at almost 1,500C. The employee was attempting to retrieve a part from a machine. This is the second death. His co-workers said he had been trading stocks and futures for a long time. The chair rolled out from underneath the employee. He climbed up on a chair with wheels to reach the part. 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. The incident happened on Thursday, June 2, at . Upon his death in 1871, the Butcher Steel Works was taken over by the principal stockholders. Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. 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. Wang Long . China Steel Factory Suicide "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. It is believed Adams stepped off a ladder before falling through a hole in the floor. A father-of-three died when he fell into a vat of . 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. 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. An Illinois man died instantly after tripping and partially falling into a vat of molten iron. Steve Mitchell, the UAWs safety chairman for the plant, admitted to a panel of investigators that the company fired workers who reported safety issues, while fecklessly stating, Im not here to speak badly about Caterpillar., In recent years at my local, Mitchell stated then, weve filed 53 11(c) complaints [whistleblower complaints under the section 11(c) of the OSHA act of 1970], and we havent had one complaint thats come in our favor. He added that people who made these complaints were disciplined or discharged and they expressed to [him] that they wish theyd never reported their injuries, and thats a sad state of affairs when you consider that your worst day at work of getting hurt just got made worse by potentially losing your job., Mitchell detailed horrific stories of workers who got fired as well. 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. 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. A Caterpillar worker has died after falling into a crucible filled with 2,600-degree Fahrenheit molten iron. PEOPLE. 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. Last December, Scott Adams of East Peoria fell to his death. Per federal safety regulations, Caterpillar Inc. was required to install guardrails or some type of restraint to protect their employees. A disturbing surveillance video allegedly showing a man jumping into a blast furnace and taking his own life has shocked Chinese internet users. 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. The U.S. Department . It added that he would have done anything for anyone with no expectation of anything in return. Powered and implemented byFactSet Digital Solutions. 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 . Dierkes death was the third in 30 years since Ron had started working there. I say that because local media are little more than advertising for Caterpillar.. His services were no longer needed. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. An Illinois man died instantly after tripping and partially falling into a vat of molten iron. In April 2020, a 47-year-old man committed suicide by jumping from a tall building in Putian City, Fujian Province. OSHA cited Caterpillar Inc. for one willful violation. I dont know what time it happened but by 10:20 a.m. the entire facility was sent home, the worker said. "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.". Dierkes death remains under investigation by the Peoria County Coroners office, the Sheriffs Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 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.. Caterpillar Inc. is facing more than $145,000 in fines from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration because an employee fell into a pot of molten iron over the summer. Steven Dierkes was working at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Illinois, US, when the accident occurred. St Gallen police The incident took place at a factory in St Gallen in Switzerland. 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 Midvale Steel Company manufactured steel parts for the railroad and the armaments industries. Sign up for notifications from Insider! I received a text from my boss early evening last night that we were not to return to work until Monday. The employee who died was a melting specialist who was removing a sample of iron from a furnace when he fell into the melting pot. It didnt go away, but the work being done by UAW-represented people did. 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.. A service celebrating his life will take place on June 9, 2022, at noon in Bloomington, Illinois. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We won't get into all the gory details . The 39-year-old employee was only on his ninth day at the job when he died. The dad-of-threes death comes six months after another deadly fall at the Mapleton foundry. 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. Steven Dierkes, 39, from Peoria, who was working alongside a crucible at iron-melting factory. "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. They proposed a fine of $145,027 for foundry operator Caterpillar. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said that no foul play is suspected, according to the Peoria Journal Star. 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. 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. It was only the employees ninth day on the job. Water gushes for days with no one stopping it, Couple had 'no respect' dumping close to a church, ABC13 viewer says, Mom's purse snatched while picking up child from daycare, police say. Ive got girls in high school. All rights reserved. He was melted in half. Investigators say if safety guards were installed, if might have prevented the accident. The facility was also fined $17,711 for multiple serious infractions such as fall protection systems and falling objects in May 2019. The worker was "immediately incinerated" in the incident, which occurred in June, per the Department of Labor. We naturally grew up together. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) WMBD/WYZZ is following up on a report of a Liberty Steel worker falling into a vat of acid in Peoria Monday. 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. Steven Dierkes, 39, was working near a crucible . In December 2021, 50-year-old Scott M. Adams also took a fatal plunge in the factory. Caterpillar workers: We want to hear from you. 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. 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 . Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this is that the man survived at . He lost more than one million yuan (equivalent to 152,000 US dollars) on the stock exchange, the police said in a statement. The five injured employees were standing around the pit, Cambria County . The United Auto Workers (UAW), which oversees a number of Caterpillar workers, said little more: Local 974 lost one of our members this morning in a tragic accident at our Mapleton facility. 2. 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