It’s the second death at the factory in six months
A man has died after falling into a 1,400°C vat of molten iron, a coroner has said.
Steven Dierkes, 39, was taking a sample from a crucible when he tripped and fell in at the Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry in Illinois last Thursday, leaving half his body lying on the factory floor.
The coroner ruled that no foul play is suspected, and the tragic incident is under investigation by the Peoria County Coroner’s office, the Sheriff’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chris Watkins said deputies were called to the facility just before 10 a.m. on Thursday (June 2) regarding an “occupational accident,” the Peoria Journal Star reports.
A Caterpillar spokeswoman said: “We are 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 are with this employee’s family, friends and colleagues. The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority.”
Dierkes leaves behind three daughters and a partner Jessica Sutter.
His death comes just six months after another worker, 50-year-old Scott Adam, died in a fall at the same factory, according to World Socialist Web Site.
This incident which is also under investigation by the OSHA.
An obituary for Dierkes said: “Steven loved the outdoors and all animals. He was a loving person who enjoyed laughter from any source he could find.
“He was a hard-working teddy bear of a man with calloused hands and a tender heart. He would have done anything for anyone with no expectation of anything in return.
“He would have given a stranger the shirt from his back even though that may have been his last shirt. Most of all, he was a wonderful loving father to his daughters that he absolutely adored. He will be greatly missed.”
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