PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County man claims he suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, when a crane at the site he was working at failed and caused a subsequent explosive release of 55 tons of molten metal.
David Beach filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 17 versus D&S Hoist and Crane, LLC of Coraopolis and Simmers Crane Design & Services Company, of Salem, Ohio.
“At all times relevant hereto, plaintiff was employed by Universal Stainless and Alloy Products which is a company that produces, among other things, finished specialty steel products and plate. At all times relevant hereto, plaintiff was employed as an AOD helper and operator in the plant located in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania,” the suit states.
“On Dec. 7, 2021, there was a failure of Hot Metal Crane No. 2, which resulted in the ladle traveling downward without control, coming into contact with slag pots and the pit below in turn releasing approximately 55 tons of molten metal, with temperatures of 2,800 to 3,000 degrees into the AOD pit, and when the molten metal contacted the material in the pit, there was a reaction which caused an energy displacement into the melt shop building where plaintiff was working. As a result of the explosion, there was a concussive reaction releasing dust, chemicals and gaseous materials from the pit, rafters and other parts of the facility, causing a blackout.”
The suit goes on to say that due to the blackout, the plaintiff was unable to see and had to carefully crawl up the steps and along a catwalk to get to the outside of the melt shop.
“As plaintiff crawled out of the building, he felt intense burning on his neck, upper chest, upper back and lower occipital portions of his scalp due to hot metal products coming into contact with his skin. While plaintiff was crawling out of the building, he inhaled fumes, dust, chemicals and gaseous materials,” the suit says.
“It is believed and therefore averred that a coupling on the hoist motor and/or other components had sheared the internal spline on the driveshaft side of the crane. It is further believed that the coupling was located on the gearbox side of the motor, which resulted in the motor side brake being disabled, which in turn caused the downward movement of the crane hoist. At all times relevant hereto, the defendants were under contract with Universal Stainless to inspect, maintain, service and repair the crane, its components, and relevant parts of the melt shop, including but not limited to, the ladle, crane and components thereof.”
As a result of the defendants’ negligence, the suit says the plaintiff suffered a litany of injuries, including: Acute thermal burns on his upper chest, back, neck and lower portions of occipital areas requiring extensive treatment in a burn unit, hydrotherapy and medications, severe smoke inhalation of smoke, dust, fumes, chemicals and gaseous material, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, congestion, throat discomfort, muscle tension dysphonia, chronic cough, laryngopharyngeal reflux, shortness of breath, acute pain and sleep disturbance and disorder, among many other injuries.
For two counts of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of the arbitration limits of Allegheny County, plus costs and any other damages the Court deems appropriate.
The plaintiff is represented by Kenneth J. Nolan of Phil DiLucente & Associates, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet retained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-23-012064
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com