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
Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer
Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
French police fatally shoot a man suspected of setting fire to a synagogue
French police shot and killed a man armed with a knife and a metal bar who is suspected of having set fire to a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen early on Friday, the latest apparent act in a storm of antisemitism roiling France amid the Israel-Hamas war.