Explosion at metal manufacturing facility kills maintenance worker

An explosion and fire at an Ohio metal foundry has left one maintenance worker dead and 13 injured. The incident occurred at the I. Schumann & Co. facility in Oakwood Village. According to the Associated Press, the deceased worker, Steven Mullins, had been with the company for almost 30 years. News 5 Cleveland is reporting that although fire officials have not determined the cause of the explosion, it appears as though the “blast originated at or near a kettle-like piece of equipment at the foundry, which holds molten metals before being poured into molds.”

Cleveland.com is reporting that I. Schumann & Co. had been cited several times over the past few years for workplace safety violations. One incident occurred in 2019 when a worker suffered third-degree burns after molten metal spilled onto the worker’s overalls. Two other incidents occurred in 2022, and they are still under investigation.

19 News discovered that the company had received a letter from the Ohio EPA notifying them of 11 violations, which included the unlawful storage and disposal of hazardous waste. Within a month, I. Schumann & Co. said that nine of the violations had been fixed.