OSHA: IL Caterpillar Worker ‘Was Immediately Incinerated’ After Falling Into Molten Iron

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The AP is reporting that a 39-year-old employee on their ninth day of work at a Caterpillar foundry at Caterpillar's Mapleton Foundry locatio fell into a melting pot of iron “and was immediately incinerated,” authorities said.

The melting specialist was removing an iron sample from a furnace when they fell into the pot of iron heated to over 2,000 degrees when he fell into the molten iron and was immediately incinerated by the 2,000 degree molten metal.

The June 2 fatality has been investigated by OSHA and OSHA found that Caterpillar did not have adequate safety restraints or guardrails that could have prevented the employee's untimely death.

According to the AP story:

“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 said in the release. “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.”

“If required safety guards or fall protection had been installed, the 39-year-old employee’s ninth day on the job might not have been their last,” officials said.

"In a statement to McClatchy News, a Caterpillar Inc. spokesperson said “we continue to be deeply saddened by the death of an employee who was involved in a serious incident at our Mapleton, Illinois, facility on June 2.”

“Our thoughts remain with this employee’s family, friends and colleagues,” she continued. “The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority at all Caterpillar locations around the world. Regarding the serious safety incident that occurred, we will continue to engage with OSHA to seek an appropriate resolution to its review.”