Indiana is the top steel producer in the country. It has been for decades. Steel is astonishingly important to our state: almost one-third of all the steel used in the United States is provided by our Hoosier steel industry. The Indiana Harbor steel mill operated by Cleveland-Cliffs (after its purchase from ArcelorMittal in 2020) is recognized as the largest integrated steel mill in the nation.
Almost a million workers are employed in Lake, Montgomery, La Porte, and Porter counties alone. As for the future, iron and steel analysts are forecasting things are looking bright for Indiana steelmakers through the remainder of the decade. For more, read “Steel still Region’s gold,” written by Doug Ross and published in NWI Indiana Business on October 4, 2022, as well as Indiana Remains Top Steel Producer in the Nation: The Deadly Dangers of Steel Production.
Keeping workers safe in the volatile and hazardous workplace of a steel mill can be complicated. Anyone working in our local steel industry knows all too well how dangerous steelwork can be and how suddenly tragedy can strike.
Just a few weeks ago, for instance, a steelworker undertaking a routine repair at the Indiana Harbor facility died in an on-the-job accident. See, “Steelworker Dies After Industrial Accident at Indiana Mill,” written by the Associated Press and published by US News & World Report on September 19, 2022. A month earlier, at that same facility, a steel worker died in a motor vehicle accident in the facility’s parking lot. Read, “Contractor killed at Indiana Harbor steel mill identified,” published by OSHA Alerts on August 25, 2022.
Top Five Dangers Facing Indiana Steel Workers
Safety agencies, advocates for worker victims and their families, and industry insiders recognize that while risks exist throughout a steel mill, there are five preeminent dangers for workers. These hazards are not only well-known, but they are also heavily regulated. Safety laws have placed exacting duties of care upon employers and those in possession, custody, or control of any aspect of the worksite to protect workers from these specific dangers.
The top five recognized dangers for steel workers are:
- Machinery – In steel production, specialized equipment and machinery are needed. It is often heavy with lots of moving parts that can invite injury. Using this machinery, as well as being involved in its repair or maintenance, is dangerous.
- Falls from height – In a steel mill, workers have to deal with things like working from substantial height on a scaffold, platform, or crane. Fall accidents can be fatal or cause catastrophic injuries.
- Falling objects – If worksites are not constantly monitored and maintained, things like tools, loose equipment, materials, or debris can accumulate. If not properly secured, there is a high risk of an item falling from high above and causing injury to those working below.
- Traffic accidents – Motor vehicles, such as industrial trucks, are moving through these facilities at all times, and at varying speeds. The likelihood of a steel worker being seriously or fatally injured in a vehicular crash is shockingly real.
- Process risks – The production process itself is filled with dangers for workers on the job because of how the mill works. Hazardous chemicals and toxins may be inhaled or ingested with fatal results. Fires can break out. Molten metals can overflow. Explosions are a constant threat.
Steelworker Injuries
When these dangers manifest in an on-site work accident, the steelworker can be killed or seriously hurt, sustaining bodily injuries that include:
- Burns
- Loss of Limb / Amputation
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Internal Organ Injuries
- Nervous System Injuries
- Cancers or Other Illnesses from exposure to toxins (e.g., asbestos or hexavalent chromium).
Steelworker Safety: Protecting Against Deadly Steel Mill Accidents
According to the World Steel Organization, those with the responsibility to keep steelworkers safe from harm can and should undertake safety measures that include:
- Moving machinery – Isolate, lock or pin all energy sources before any machinery is accessed.
- Falling from height – Provide regular training, appropriate harnessing equipment and ensure checks are in place when working from heights.
- Falling objects – Ensure regular checks are in place to remove or secure objects in risk areas.
- On-site traffic – Ensure all traffic on the site is operated safely, including road, rail and pedestrians, and remove all unnecessary traffic.
- Process safety incidents – Identify potential process safety hazards that could cause explosions or fires and introduce and maintain adequate barriers and controls.
From a legal perspective, the safety regulations imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) are duties for employers that include specific requirements for the protection of steelworkers.
These regulations include the requirement that steel workers be provided with Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) specific to their job needs. Equipment and machinery need to be inspected routinely and repaired or replaced as necessary according to safety mandates. There should be safety procedures in place in the event of an emergency.
Justice for Indiana Steelworkers Hurt on the Job
For those that fail to meet the OSHA safety regulations, or disregard or ignore industry safety standards, an argument can be made that they have breached a legal duty of care owed to the worker victim that creates legal liability for the accident and its consequences.
Monetary damages may include lost wages, medical care expenses, long-term rehabilitation needs, future therapy, and more. Claims may be filed under the state’s worker’s compensation plan.
If the investigation into the incident reveals that a defective product contributed to the accident or other parties had a legal duty that was breached, then additional claims may be filed under the personal injury laws of the state.
For more, read:
- Machine Guarding: Serious Industrial Work Accidents Caused by Moving Machine Parts
- Lockout Tagout Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Employer Liability
- Burn Injuries and Death from Accident Burns
- The High Risk of a Deadly Confined Space Accident on the Job
- Fatal Falls on the Job and the Employers Failure to Protect Worker From Fall Risk
- Steel Mill Workers in Indiana and Illinois: Rising Production and Greater Danger of Injury or Death
- Hot Work Industrial Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Employer’s Duty of Care
- Extreme Heat on the Job: Danger of Severe Worker Injuries or Death.
Indiana’s steelworkers are to be respected not only for their contributions to our state’s tradition as the country’s top steel producer but for their abilities and bravery in working in dangerous conditions day after day. They deserve to be protected and kept safe while on the job. Please be careful out there!
