96733 - SOUTH ST PAUL STEEL SUPPLY CO INC

Employee is crushed by falling stack of tubular steel

On January 26, 2018, an employee was working for a metal service center and metal merchant wholesaler. The firm sold steel, stainless steel, and aluminum products. It processed those materials as well. He and two coworkers were performing a loadout of various sizes and configurations of steel onto an awaiting flatbed trailer. They were using an overhead hoist to do this. As the material was being stacked on the ground, a stack of tubular steel fell onto the employees chest and leg. He was crushed. The material did not fall from the overhead hoist, but from the stack on the ground. Immediately, his two coworkers utilized the overhead hoist and a chain sling to remove the steel that had fallen on the employee. He was not removed from the original position where he was trapped, until emergency responders arrived. They attempted to revive him, unsuccessfully. The employee was crushed killed by the steel tubes. tubes.