15 contractors were injured last Friday in connection with an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Works Zug Island mill, just outside of Detroit, Michigan.
Contractors Were Clearing Ash from Blast Furnace’s Dust Catcher When It Exploded
The August 10th incident involved a dust catcher in the mill’s D4 Blast Furnace.
According to media reports, workers were attempting to clear the dust catcher, which was packed with ash, when the blast occurred.
3 Contractors Remain Hospitalized with Severe Burns
15 boilermakers employed by Pennsylvania-based Songer Steel Services were transferred to local hospitals.
The extent of their injuries is unknown. However, 3 remained hospitalized with severe burns as of Saturday.
No U.S. Steel employees were injured in the explosion.
2nd Serious Incident at U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works in Just Over a Year
This is the second serious incident to injure workers at the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works on Zug Island in a little over a year.
An explosion at the plant’s Hot Strip Mill on July 31, 2017 sent 6 workers to the hospital, including 2 who were admitted to the Detroit Receiving Hospital’s burn unit.
U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works Has Questionable Safety Record
In just the past five years, 3 workers have died in connection with accidents at the Great Lakes Works:
- A U.S. Steel employee was killed in December 2013 when molten metal ignited a fire on the shanty where he was working.
- A contractor died in April 2014 when the crane he was operating tipped over.
- A U.S. Steel employee was run over by a truck and killed in April 2015.
Records from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) indicate that the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works has been cited 20 times and fined $33,000 over the past 5 years for “serious” safety violations. Some of those citations remain open.
Songer Steel Services has received 8 “serious” OSHA citations and paid fines totaling $32,500 for violations at the Great Lakes Works.
Have Questions about the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works Explosion? Contact Our Undefeated Plant Explosion Lawyers at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
Our Undefeated Plant Explosion Lawyers are investigating the latest incident at the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works and will post updates as new information becomes available.
Having won more than $1 billion for our clients, including over 1,000 workers injured or tragically killed in connection with the worst workplace explosions in recent history, our attorneys have the skills, resources, and expertise to go up against the largest companies in the world and win, ensuring that our clients and their families receive the maximum compensation possible for all of their injuries and losses.
If you would like to discuss your legal rights and options following the U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works explosion, call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free, and since we only represent clients on a contingency-fee basis, you’ll pay nothing unless we win your case.