“This is not the first time that a serious accident has occurred,” recalls the company’s CGT in a press release published on November 26. The day before, around 9:40 p.m., a work accident occurred at the NovAsco steelworks, formerly Ascometal, in Hagondange.
The incident took place at the continuous casting level. While placing a ladle, the casting drawer opened, spilling molten steel onto the ground. The three employees who were present in the area at the time of the accident were thrown by steel and injured.
The firefighters intervened quickly and transported the victims to Mercy Hospital. The police also went to the scene. The site being classified as an NRBC risk, which describes nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical risks, certain police officers and first responders had to be quarantined after their intervention, in order to check that they were not contaminated or contaminating.
The vital prognosis is not engaged
One of the employees suffered an ear injury and was released from the hospital overnight. The other two are still hospitalized with burns. Their vital prognosis is not in jeopardy, but one was seriously burned on the legs and face (28% of the body to the 3rd degree) and would have been placed in an artificial coma.
“If the blockage had opened a few seconds earlier, we would have had three deaths”, specifies the CGT, which wishes in the future “to shed full light on this event”. In the steel industry, molten metal flows at 1,500 degrees or more.
The steelworks will not restart this week or next
As of November 26, an extraordinary Social and Economic Committee (CSE) was held at 4:30 p.m. After these meetings, management invited employees to return home. Those who took up positions following the accident were offered psychological help.
A new CSE is scheduled for this Thursday, November 28, in which the subject of the opening of the factory should be discussed for the days and weeks to come.
“To date, management can confirm the following points: the steelworks will not restart this week or the next. The rolling mill is asked (on a voluntary basis) to do an additional shift this Thursday night in order to complete the current program, then will be shut down afterwards, at least for the whole of next week as well. »
An investigation will be carried out by the labor inspectorate and a company must carry out a machine assessment.
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