Worker dies after transformer incident at Granite City steel plant

A 62-year-old steelworker from Bridgeton, Missouri, died after being electrocuted at a Granite City steel mill early Saturday, authorities confirmed.

Mitcheal N. Nelson was working with two other employees on a transformer at U.S. Steel Granite City Works that malfunctioned during a storm when he was electrocuted, Madison County Coroner Nick Novacich said in a news release Monday.

Novacich said Nelson was trying to shut off the transformer when he was electrocuted.

The release said the cause of death is preliminary and subject to change after routine toxicology testing.

Novacich said first responders received a 911 call at 4:53 a.m. Saturday. Nelson was pronounced dead at 6:20 a.m. after lifesaving efforts by the Granite City Fire Department, according to the release.

U.S. Steel spokesperson Andrew Fulton said the death occurred at the cold-rolled mill on the finishing side of the Granite City facility.

“There are no words that can capture the grief we feel for our colleague, their family, friends and coworkers,” Fulton said in a statement. “Safety is our top priority, and we are working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy and will cooperate fully with all investigations.”

Fulton said no other employees were injured and there is no threat to the community.

The Belleville News-Democrat contacted the United Steelworkers Local 1899, but a union representative for the organization declined to comment.

Granite City Works resumed steel production in March after sitting idle for over two years after uncertainty about the facility’s fate.

U.S. Steel announced plans last year to wind down production at the facility. But the company, now owned by Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., announced in December that it would restart a second blast furnace this year due to rising demand.

Novacich said the case remains under investigation by the Granite City Police Department and the Madison County Coroner’s Office. Funeral arrangements are being made with James O’Donnell Funeral Home in