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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 101523934 - Northwestern Steel & Wire Company
Inspection Information - Office: Naperville Area Office
Site Address:
Northwestern Steel & Wire Company
121 Wallace Street
Sterling, IL 61081
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:3312
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 05/16/1988
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 05/25/1988
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360120026 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 19100133 A01 | 05/20/1988 | 05/25/1988 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
AT ABOUT 12:05 AM ON MAY 4, 1988, EMPLOYEE #1 AND ANOTHER MILLWRIGHT WERE ASSIGNED THE JOB OF REPLACING TWO BOLTS ON THE SLAG DOOR FITTING OF A 400 TON ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE. ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE FURNACE, THEY NOTED THAT THE FURNACE WAS IDLE BUT NOT TAPPED. EMPLOYEE #1'S COWORKER WALKED TO THE PULPIT TO FIND OUT HOW LONG THE FURNACE WOULD BE DOWN AND TO ARRANGE FOR A CRANE. HE THOUGHT EMPLOYEE #1 WAS FOLLOWING HIM. SHORTLY AFTER THE MILLWRIGHT ENTERED THE PULPIT, A REACTION SIMILAR TO A "CARBON BLOW" OCCURRED (THE FURNACE HAD BEEN IDLE MORE THAN 1/2 HOUR AT THIS TIME), AND A JET OF FLAME SHOT OUT THE SLAG DOOR. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ENGULFED IN THE FLAME. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BURNS ON 100% OF HIS BODY; 80% OF THE BURNS WERE 3RD DEGREE. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A BURN UNIT AND DIED 30 HOURS LATER.
Keywords: BURN, FURNACE, WORK RULES, FIRE, MILLWRIGHT, CHEMICAL REACTION
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101523934 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported |