Inspection Detail

Inspection: 302605720 - Northwestern Steel & Wire Company

Inspection Information - Office: Naperville Area Office

Inspection Nr: 302605720

Report ID: 0521400

Date Opened: 05/05/2000

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: 08/03/2000

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 09/20/2000

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	361957822

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 200820801

Event: 05/04/2000

Employee burned when hydraulic fluid vapor ignites

Employee #1 and two coworkers were preparing to tap the #8 furnace when for some reason an eruption occurred, sending molten slag at approximately 2,800 degrees F out of the lance opening. The slag poured onto unshielded high pressure hydraulic lines and burned through them. This sent a cloud of hydraulic fluid vapor into the work area which immediately ignited into a ball of fire. Employee #1 and the two coworkers sustained burns, for which they were hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, FURNACE, STEEL-MELTING FURN, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, MOLTEN SLAG, WORK RULES, FIRE, HYDRAULIC FLUID, EXPLOSION, CHEMICAL REACTION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	302605720			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

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