Steel Industry 1944 Toledo Ohio

An good look at steelmaking as done during WWII, long before OSHA and EPA. For most iron-making, the essential features are coke ovens and the blast furnace, where coke is produced from coal and iron ore is melted (reduced) to produce pig iron, respectively. The furnace is charged from the top with iron ore, coke and limestone; hot air, frequently enriched with oxygen, is blown in from the bottom; and the carbon produced from the coke transforms the iron ore into pig iron containing carbon, with the generation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The limestone acts as a flux. At a temperature of 1,600°C, the pig iron melts and collects at the bottom of the furnace. The furnace is tapped (i.e. the pig iron is removed) periodically, and the pig iron is cast into pigs for later use (e.g. in foundries), or is poured into ladles where it is transferred, still molten, to the steel-making plant. The purpose of steel-making operations is to refine the pig iron which contains large amounts of carbon and other impurities. The carbon content must be reduced, the impurities oxidized and removed, and the iron converted into a highly elastic metal that can be forged and fabricated. Alloying agents may be added at this stage. Different types of melting furnace are used in this process. Steel is cast into slabs, billets, bars, ingots and other shapes. Subsequent steps may include scarfing, pickling, annealing, hot and cold rolling, extrusion, galvanizing, surface coating, cutting and slitting, and other operations designed to produce a variety of steel products. Operations in the iron and steel industry may expose workers to a wide range of hazards or workplace activities or conditions that could cause incidents, injury, death, ill health or diseases. For a comprehensive looks at the hazards and their control, go to the 2005 Code of Practice for safety and health in the iron and steel industry at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cops/english/index.htm .This was clipped from the 1944 US Government film, Steeltown.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• steel
• iron
• foundry
• safety
• health
• steelworker
• USW
• union
• OSHA
• NIOSH
• industrial
• hygiene

[silver760]

The open hearth method and the skill and experience of the operators produced far better steels than modern methods using oxygen converters.Older steels produced up to the mid sixties machine nicely and are far more resistant to corrosion.This becomes evident when working on things such as old car bodies and vehicle components.I recently bought some 11/4" new rolled plate which was terrible to machine with hard spots all over and running right through it,itsupposed to be good quality!!

[Kong80King]

Digitally remastered it would be search for oil and we live for oil. How ironic, remembers me of `Duck and Cover` :)

[priza220]

I'm proud to be a steel worker.. :)

[Allante715]

@WoodlandRavah

Well if I could built a time machine I would send you to the late 1800`s. An industrial worker during the gilded age sounds like a job for you.

[WoodlandRavah]

@Allante715

["You are not a slave for petes sake."]

Actually considering all of my federal tax money goes to pay off mounting interest payments on our debt, yeah in a way I am a slave... I know what you mean, But I earn my money, I dont ask for benefits or X or Y... Government, business, society, ect... owe me nothing, and vice versa.

[Allante715]

@WoodlandRavah

How is that punishing my employer? Working overtime on 12 hour rotating shifts is quite hard on the body, why shouldn`t you get paid more? I think the problem is you do not value your skills and your time. You are not a slave for petes sake.

We agree on one thing. I hate lawyers too!

[WoodlandRavah]

@Allante715

That's just justifying the unjust, "become a salary employee. You can work overtime and not be paid a cent."

Why cant I work overtime as hourly, without punishing my employer?

Why cant I, the employee, negotiate anything, including a transition to salary from hourly or vice versa?

I have always underbid my fellow workers, but because we live in a sue happy society when I say something like this to my employer they suspect I'm trying to f@#$ them over... I H8 lawyers...

[Allante715]

@WoodlandRavah

It works for hourly employees, especially in manufacturing industries that must operate 24/7. Say you have a steel mill with 1500 hourly employees. Think about having to individually negotiate wages and hours. The union creates a tiered system that places employees in pay brackets depending on education, experience and time served with the company.

You can work overtime if you want, and on holidays if you wish (double time!). There is plenty of oppourtunites for overtime.

[Allante715]

@WoodlandRavah

Then become a salary employee. You can work overtime and not be paid a cent.

[Allante715]

@WoodlandRavah

They are, but no one listens. Besides any tariff has to be authorized by the World Trade Organization. Some politicians have the idea that tariffs are harmful to the free market.