Union concerned about mounting safety incidents at Algoma Steel
Another incident at Algoma Steel has union officials questioning safety protocols at Sault Ste. Marie’s steel plant.
One person was injured in the most recent slag-related explosion, frustrating those representing workers at the company.
“We are in a crisis mode regarding safety at Algoma Steel,” said Mike Da Prat, president of USW Local 2251.
The latest incident startled many in the Sault this week, with a loud bang alerting many in the city’s west end.
Despite requests to learn more about the steel plant’s string of incidents this year, CTV News was only provided this update yesterday evening from the company:
“At approximately 1:45 p.m., an incident occurred at Algoma’s on-site slag reprocessing area where molten slag, a steel-making by-product, came into contact with residual water from today’s heavy rainfall. The resulting reaction caused a fire in a piece of mobile equipment. One worker was treated on-site for injuries.”
But Da Prat said the company isn’t doing enough to prevent these incidents.
“It used to happen in a controlled way, based on the design of where the slag, etc., was being dumped,” he said.
“And the fact that everybody knew enough to look for the water and to make sure that there was no water around. And then if it was raining hard, some extra precautions were taken. The answer is they're not doing that.”
This week’s incident comes after a February event of the same nature that sent five people to hospital. That’s on top of a number of other incidents in the last year.
“We have had four situations in very close order -- four incidents,” Da Prat said.
“How can anybody say that anything … was rectified or that safety procedures were enhanced or anything of that nature? If it had, we wouldn't be having them. But we are.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.