Posted on 04/20/2007 6:38:49 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Workers recount tragedy at China steel factory
by Robert J. Saiget
Thu Apr 19, 3:18 AM ET
Survivors of a horrific industrial accident in northeast China Thursday recounted the gruesome scene at their factory when 26 tonnes of molten steel poured into a meeting room, killing 32 workers.
A steel ladle sheared off a blast furnace, sending liquid metal into the room and engulfing workers as they prepared for their shift Wednesday morning.
"All those boys are gone, only the guys that were just about to get off work were lucky enough to escape," the Beijing News quoted survivor Jiao Zhengyan as saying.
"The molten steel is 1,500 Centigrade (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit) as it hits the ground and spills all over, the heat wave rushes over you and your clothes burn off. I didn't have time to think about it, I just ran to save my life."
The accident happened at Qinghe Special Steel Corp, a relatively modern facility in China's former industrial heartland in Liaoning province.
Six other workers were injured in the accident with one suffering burns over 60 percent of his body.
Those killed in the accident were burnt beyond recognition, and authorities said they would have to use DNA testing to identify the victims.
"Right after the accident, I went to the scene, but there was no one in the room, they had all been consumed by the steel," another unidentified worker at the factory told the New Express daily. "All that was in the room was a 70-square-meter block of steel."
Worker Jiao said he was near the ladle when an apparent brake failure on the crane sent the bucket crashing into a platform car and raining liquid steel onto the workers.
"It hit a platform car and then started spilling molten steel in the direction of the shift transfer room where they were having their safety meeting. That was the most tragic moment," said Jiao, 38.
Another survivor, Zhou Xiaofei, said a shower of molten steel began raining down on him as he exited the factory as fast as he could.
"We were preparing to change the shift when suddenly I heard a loud bang, I immediately knew something was wrong, and I ran for my life, but big drops of molten steel spilled on me," Zhou said.
"I just ran, if I had hesitated for a moment, even to turn and look, then I might not have made it out of there alive."
Zhou went into surgery at a local hospital on Thursday, suffering burns over his face, arms and legs.
The accident highlights China's dismal industrial safety record and came as the government prepared to announce Thursday yet another double-digit expansion of the nation's booming economy in the first quarter of 2007.
The head of the workshop where the accident occurred and the machine operator and technician of the workshop have all been taken into custody and are under investigation, local police said.
"Families of victims will receive at least 200,000 yuan (25,800 dollars) each in compensation," Xinhua reported, quoting unnamed officials.
China's work safety administration said the factory employed some 300 workers, while Xinhua said the plant was relatively new, established in 1987, and employed 650 workers.
I actually didn't realize there was a pun there until after I posted. How ironic is that?
Did you hear about the muslim that jumped into the molten steel and saved everyone?
Would there be any reasonable way to construct a plant so that a spill of molton steel could get directed away from people, or would it be impossible to avoid having the first steel down freeze and block the remainder from flowing?
“Would there be any reasonable way to construct a plant so that a spill of molton steel could get directed away from people”
These ladels should not be falling - redundant systems should provide a failsafe design.
Even if a ladle does not fall, what about hazards from pouring too much metal into a mold, etc?
The ladle does the pouring and it is filled from the furnace - I am not sure how that is controlled or if it is an issue.
One bad Chinese joke calls for another (totally unrelated to subject matter of thread). Please accept my apologies in advance:
Chinese Wedding Night
A Chinese man gets married. His wife is a virgin. Truth be told, he is not all that experienced either.
On their wedding night, she cowers naked under the sheets as her husband undresses.
He climbs in next to her and tries to be reassuring. “My darring” he says, “I know dis yo firss time and you berry frighten. I pomise you, I give you anyting you want, I do anyting - juss anyting you want. Whatchou want?” he says, trying to sound experienced, which he hopes
will impress her.
A thoughtful silence follows and he waits patiently (and eagerly) for her request. She eventually replies shyly and unsure, “I want try somesing I hear about... Numbah 69”.
More thoughtful silence, this time from him. Eventually, in a puzzled tone he asks...
“You want... beef wiff broccori?!”
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