Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310064217 - Mcwane, Inc. Dba Ab&I Foundry

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on May 22, 2008, Employee #1, an iron shanker/relief man, was relieving the machine operator on Pipe Machine 3 (PM-3) in the Pipe Molding Department. Pipe Machine 4 (PM-4) located parallel to PM-3 at a distance of approximately 143 in. was having problems with the core setter, which seals one end of the pipe-molding machine while at the other end molten iron was poured into the machine. The machines were on a programmable operation while the operator monitored the computer. The PM-4 had been fixed and had been running with no problems for approximately 1 hour. Then, within 15 minutes of the machine operating, the core setter had slightly released and the molten iron shot out as the machine was still in cycle. A coworker ran away and told Employee #1 to run as well, but as they were running, the molten iron spray struck the back, legs, and feet of Employee #1. He received first and second degree burns to these body parts. Employee #1 was transported to a medical center, where he received treatment for the burns on his back, legs, and feet, and then was released from the emergency room. During a follow-up appointment with the specialist a few days later, he was hospitalized for one week at another medical center, where he underwent skin grafts to his feet.

Keywords: BURN, BACK, MOLTEN METAL, STRUCK BY, FOOT, LEG