Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Nucor , 2911 E Nucor Road, NORFOLK, NEBRASKA 68702
on — Concussions, affecting the brain.
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Final narrative
Four employees were working on the melt floor when Employee 4 noted a change in sound within a furnace. The sound indicated that water was leaking into the furnace, and water was also visibly coming out of an observation port at the bottom of the furnace. Employee 1 went to investigate and determined that the roof (lid) of the furnace could be opened to view the extent of the leak. Employee 1 gave Employee 4 the okay to open the roof of the furnace via the radio. When the roof was opened, a large piece of slag dropped from the bottom of the roof down into the shell of the furnace. This slag dropped into the molten metal and water below, causing a rapid expansion event that spewed slag and molten metal out of the furnace into the surrounding area. The slag and molten metal struck Employee 1 and Employee 2. Employee 1 was struck on the left side of the face and neck, causing him to be thrown to the ground. He suffered burns and abrasions to the left side of his face and neck. Employee 2 was struck on the back of the helmet, knocking him to the ground, bruising the back of his head, and causing a concussion. Employee 2 also received several contusions and a large hematoma to his elbow due to being thrown back from the blast.
An employee was sitting in the cab of the truck while waste oxidizer was being offloaded. The waste reacted with the receiving tank and an explosion occurred in the tank. Fire traveled through the hose to the tanker truck, causing it to explode. The employee jumped from the burning truck and was hospitalized with burns to his face, chest, and arms.
An employee was installing piping and valves for fire protection systems in the vicinity of an electrical meter outside of a new warehouse. The meter exploded, causing burns to the employee's face and arms.
An employee was pouring molten aluminum into a drain pot. The aluminum touched moisture at the bottom of the drain pot and an explosion occurred. The employee sustained burns to their face, hands, and legs.
An employee was operating an oxygen-deficient oven that required manual ignition to make charcoal from wood. As the oven was opened, oxygen was introduced to the environment, resulting in an explosion. The employee sustained head trauma as well as fractures to the arms and legs.
An employee was setting up the electrical parts for a fireworks display. They were inserting an e-match when it generated friction with something else. A 3-inch firework shell ignited, injuring the employee's hand and head.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 331513)
An employee was unloading metal from two drums on a pallet. The employee removed the lid from the second drum and the drum fell over onto his ankle. The employee sustained a fractured ankle.
An employee was working with team members on the pouring line, casting a sand mold. Molten metal entered the employee's personal protection suit and severely burned his left leg, calf, and ankle.
An employee was jointing a board with a jointer. The board jumped when it came into contact with the jointer's cutter head, and the jolt caused the employee's left hand to slide between the board and the guard and come into contact with the cutter head. He suffered lacerations/partial amputations to the middle, ring, and index fingers.
An employee was turning off a gas valve when he bumped into a die brush and struck the spinning die. The die pin struck him on the back, resulting in contusions, abrasions, and a severe laceration to his back that required hospitalization and surgery.
At 11:45 a.m. on June 13, 2025, an employee of Staley Steel, LLC, was performing preventive maintenance on an overhead crane. While he was holding a grease gun hose and nozzle, he contacted electrical components inside an electrical box. He suffered a first-degree electrical burn on the palm of the left hand, as well as pain up his left arm to the shoulder, and was hospitalized.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.