Date: August 10, 2018
Location: River Rouge, Michigan (USA)
Address: 1300 Zug Island Road, 48209
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Steel Dust
Industry: Steel Production (Automotive & Metal Working)
Equipment: Dust Catcher
Company: U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: 15 Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, U.S. Steel Great Lakes Works consists of both steelmaking and finishing operations. Products manufactured at the Zug Island plant include coated, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled sheet steels used in the automotive industry. It has an estimated annual raw steelmaking capacity of 3.8 million net tons.
Great Lakes Works also owns an electrolytic-galvanizing line in Dearborn. The facility once operated as a U. S. Steel joint venture known as Double Eagle Steel Coating Company.
Incident Description:
On August 13, 2018, the World Socialist Web Site reported an explosion at a steel mill on Zug Island in River Rouge, Michigan. The incident, which sent 15 boilermakers to local hospitals, involved the “dust catcher”.
According to a video from Channel 7 News | Detroit the injured told local news outlets that supervisors instructed workers to clean out the dust collector, which was packed with ash, but they initially resisted, saying it was a safety issue. When the explosion occurred, hot ash fell on all of the injured workers, one of whom crawled on his hands and knees to pull another boilermaker out of the ash.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Zug Island facility for numerous safety violations in the past and charged the steel services company that employs the workers with more than $30,000 in penalties for violations at the plant.
Previous Incidents:
On August 1, 2017, Michigan Live reported that an explosion took place at the Zug Island plant on July 31, sending five workers to the hospital. The cause of the incident was never determined.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search showed 20 OSHA inspections for Great Lakes Works. None of these inspections were flagged under the Combustible Dust National Emphasis program.
Sources:
World Socialist Web Site
Channel 7 News | Detroit
Detroit Free Press
Michigan Live
