ADRIAN BOODAN

Steel worker Daryn McLetchie, 43, is fighting for his life after an accident at the Arcelor Mittal Steel plant in Point Lisas on Sunday.

McLetchie, of James Street in Santa Cruz, a ladle operator, suffered burns to 70 per cent of his body around 11 pm.

Reports stated that molten steel at a temperature of more than 1,600 degrees Celsius fell on his face and then down his body.

McLetchie’s boots had to be cut out after the explosion and his protective wear removed.

He was then rushed to Couva District Hospital then to San Fernando General. He is now reported in a critical state at West Shore medical facility in Cocorite, Port-of-Spain.

President of the Steel Workers Union of T&T (SWUTT) Lex Lovell, said a joint investigation was on with union officials, Arcelor Mittal and the OSH Authority.

He said operations at the plant continued, with another shift taking over, despite the accident.

Lovell said the investigation should determine whether the accident was because of human error or a mechanical problem.

He said McLetchie was wearing the proper safety gear at the time of the explosion, but even his safety gear could not stand up to the heat from the molten steel.

Also, the Point Lisas plant had been plagued with problems during the last two weeks.

He said a worker fell through a roof recently, and there was an explosion in the No 1 furnace.

Lovell said another furnace was giving problems last week, and had to be shut down.

He said the 1,200 workers on the plant were very much concerned about their safety.

Meanwhile, corporate communications manager of Arcellor, Mittal Fazad Mohammed, said an investigation into the incident had been started.

He, however, was gathering information, and would issue a statement. — With reporting by Radhica Sookraj