Deadly Accidents: the Great Danger of Ironworking Fatalities
According to the ironworkers’ union (the International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers of America), the transition from using wood and stone to using steel across America in the building of both infrastructure (think bridges) as well as architectural projects (think multi-story buildings) happened in the late 1800s. The change was fast. Steel was big then, and the steel industry is still huge today in our country.
Steel came with its own considerations. A new type of talent was needed: craftsmen adept at working with iron, or what we have come to know as the “ironworker.”
For many of us, ironworking is a recognized occupation of someone we know or love, because the steel industry is such a vital part of our community.
Steel Industry in Illinois and Indiana
Compared to the rest of the nation, the steel industry has particularly deep ties to our part of the country. In Illinois, for instance, the Joliet Iron and Steel Works began operating in 1869, and rose to become the second largest steel mill in the country by 1936. Today, it is home to the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site.
And of course, there’s Gary, Indiana. The city of Gary was created and named after the Chairman of the Board of Directors for U.S. Steel, after the corporation bought up over 8000 acres of Indiana swampland back in 1905, in order to build its steel mill on the banks of Lake Michigan.
Ironworkers: “Cowboys in the Sky”
For over 100 years these professionals, with a historic nickname of “cowboys in the sky,” have taken on the challenge of installing and/or reinforcing iron (and steel) in all sorts of configurations: roadways, bridges, skyscrapers, and more.
Today, ironworkers in Illinois and Indiana can be called upon to perform a variety of tasks, some of which are pretty safe and some that come with an extremely high risk of harm. An ironworker’s day can include any one or more of the following responsibilities:
- Read blueprints, sketches, and other site instructions;
- Follow blueprints, sketches, and other site instructions;
- Unload and stack prefabricated iron;
- Unload and stack prefabricated steel;
- Signal crane operators who then lift and position structural iron and steel;
- Signal crane operators who then lift and position reinforcing iron and steel;
- Use shears, rod-bending machines, and welding equipment to cut, bend, and weld iron and steel;
- Align iron and steel vertically and horizontally, using tag lines, plumb bobs, lasers, and levels; and
- Connect iron and steel with bolts, wire, or welds.
The Work of Ironworkers
Usually, ironworkers are involved in working with structural and reinforcing iron and steel in various construction projects, such as skyscrapers, other commercial buildings, interstates, bridges, etc. However, ironworkers may also be needed in rehabbing older structures (rehabilitation projects) or in demolishing older constructions.
- Structural ironworkers are responsible for our skylines in Chicago and Indianapolis and elsewhere: it is the ironworker who puts together the steel skeleton, story upon story, from parts made of beams and columns, welding them together with torches and hand tools.
- Reinforcing ironworkers work with rebar and cable to make sure concrete is strong and reliable in bridges, highways, and all sorts of commercial structures.
Considering the type of work involved here, it is no wonder that the ironworker faces a high risk of serious injury or death while on the job.
- While on the job, ironworkers may face hazardous weather conditions, especially during our cold winter months.
- The job site may endanger workers with toxic chemicals or contaminants.
- Ironworkers work with welding equipment and other devices that are dangerous.
- They may need to work at great heights, or climb scaffolds in order to do their job.
Ironworkers operate in a high-risk environment where they must be vigilant to maintain safety protocols that include wearing safety belts and helmets, as well as gloves and other protections specific to the tasks at hand. Ironworkers are dependent upon their fellow workers on the job as well as supervisors and management for their safety while at work. Companies must make sure that workers are given needed safety training as well as provided with proper safety equipment while on the job.
Ironworker: One of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, working as an ironworker in America today means you are earning a living in one of the country’s deadliest jobs. In December 2018, the BLS announced that only five (5) other types of work were more dangerous than ironworking (they are commercial fishermen; logging workers; aircraft pilots and flight engineers; roofers; and refuse and recyclable material collectors).
In the federal government’s latest list of “Top Ten Jobs with the Highest Fatal Work Injury Rates in the U.S.,” ironworkers ranked 6th (sixth) in the country.
Ironwork Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
Sadly, ironworkers in our part of the country have suffered fatal injuries and died from work accidents after they have fallen from a height or off a scaffold while on the job site; having been crushed under tumbling steel beams or columns, or other falling debris; suffocated in collapsed trenches; suffered third-degree burns; inhaled toxic fumes; or perished from bodily injuries sustained when job site equipment or safety gear failed to operate properly (malfunctioned).
The laws of Indiana and Illinois recognize the dangers facing ironworkers and the ramifications of a fatal ironworker accident upon the worker’s family and loved ones. Personal injury laws, product liability claims, as well as workers’ compensation statutes may provide justice for victims of fatal ironwork accidents.
Ironworkers must be respected for their historical contributions to this country as well as for their expertise and courage in undertaking such a dangerous line of work. Please be careful out there!
