Half man’s body melted when he tripped and fell into 1,440°C vat of molten iron

Steven’s household remembered him as a ‘teddy bear of a person’ who ‘adored’ his daughters

A father-of-three died when he fell right into a vat of molten iron, a coroner has mentioned.

Steven Dierkes, 39, was taking a pattern from the 1,400°C crucible when he tripped and fell in, killing him immediately.

Half his physique stayed outdoors the container, in keeping with a colleague at Caterpillar’s Mapleton Foundry in Illinois.

His household remembered him as a ‘hard-working teddy bear of a person’ who ‘completely adored’ his daughters, aged 12, 5 and 4, and associate Jessica Stutter.

No foul play is suspected, in keeping with Coroner Jamie Harwood, who was quoted within the native newspaper serving Steven’s dwelling city of Peoria.

However issues have been raised over security on the foundry, the place one other employee died in December after stepping off a ladder and falling 20 ft by means of a gap within the flooring.

An worker mentioned Steven had ‘solely been there for 5 days’ and didn't have ample coaching to be on the iron flooring, in keeping with the World Socialist Internet Web site.

The power was fined $5,750 by the Occupational Security and Well being Administration (OSHA) for a security violation in 2020 mentioned to have involved ‘fall safety techniques and falling objects’.

Steven is the second employee to have died on the foundry in simply over six months

This adopted fines from the security watchdog of $4,337 in November 2019, $17,711 in Might 2019 and $10,419 in January 2019.

The third fantastic reportedly resulted from an incident through which a employee’s finger was severed whereas repairing a damaged chain on a conveyor belt system.

Investigations into Steven’s dying by the OSHA in addition to the sheriff and coroner’s workplaces are underway.

The OSHA can also be investigating the December dying of 50-year-old Scott Adams, who was an electrical contractor introduced into the plant to put in new tools.

Steven was mentioned to have intensive expertise within the manufacturing business, working in varied roles after graduating from welding school.

The assertion launched for his memorial mentioned: ‘Steven liked the outside and all animals. He was a loving one who loved laughter from any supply he may discover.

Steven is surived by three younger daughters and his ‘greatest buddy’ and associate Jessica

‘He was a hard-working teddy bear of a person with calloused palms and a young coronary heart. He would have performed something for anybody with no expectation of something in return.

‘He would have given a stranger the shirt from his again although that will have been his final shirt. Most of all, he was an exquisite loving father to his daughters that he completely adored. He shall be drastically missed.’

A press release launched by Caterpillar in response to Steven’s dying mentioned: ‘We're deeply saddened by the dying of an worker who was concerned in a severe incident at our Mapleton, Illinois, facility on June 2.

‘Our ideas are with this worker’s household, buddies and colleagues. The security of our staff, contractors and guests is our high precedence.’

The corporate has been approached for additional remark.

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