Steel Erupts Into Ball Of Flame Injuring 7 At ArcelorMittal in Northwest Indiana

Seven steel workers were injured when molten steel erupted into a ball of flame today at a Burns Harbor, Indiana steel mill, reports the Chicago Tribune. Word about the cause of the accident and the medical condition of the Northwest Indiana steel workers injured at ArcelorMittal wasn't known at the time of the report.

All seven were wearing flame-retardant protective clothing and were standing next to the plant's No. 1 oxygen furnace when they were "hit with this backlash of extreme heat, slag and molten steel," United Steelworkers Local 6787 president Paul Gibson said.

CBS 2 News Chicago reports that all of the injured steel workers were burned. According to the report, at least one steel worker was in serious condition.

It's easy to forget that making steel is a dangerous -- but necessary job.

Our wishes and prayers are with the steel workers and their families during this time.

accident steel mill Burns Harbor ArcelorMittal Northwest Indiana