In a report from the Macomb Daily, a worker at the Sterling Stamping Plant, died earlier this week after a machine fell onto him. The 2.74-million-square-foot plant located in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights, Michigan manufactures stampings and assemblies for a number of popular Stellantis vehicles including the Ram 1500, Ram 1500 Classic, Dodge Durango, Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Voyager, and Chrysler Grand Caravan.
According to an initial investigation done by the Sterling Heights Police Department, the worker was in the process of lifting a press machine with a crane this past Wednesday night, to work on it. It was then the machine shifted and fell onto the man, crushing him beneath.
The worker was transported to an area hospital, where he later died.
“Stellantis confirms that there was a workplace accident at the Sterling Stamping Plant on April 21st, resulting in the death of one of our employees,” Jodi Tinson, Communications for Manufacturing and Labor for Stellantis said in a statement. “The incident is currently under investigation. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our employee.”
United Auto Workers (UAW) officials also released statements regarding the incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our brother at Sterling Stamping Plant, Local 1264, who perished in an accident at the facility,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, Director of the UAW Stellantis/FCA Department. ”We are working with our joint UAW-Stellantis Health and Safety Department to get more information on this fatal workplace accident and providing the necessary support for our Local 1264 Brothers and Sisters during this crisis. We are mourning the loss of our co-worker as we find out more about this incident. On behalf of all UAW members and UAW Stellantis members, our hearts go out to the family of our deceased Brother.”
UAW President, Rory L. Gamble, also released a statement saying, “Our prayers go out to the loved ones of our brother who died [Wednesday] evening. Every day our UAW members kiss their families goodbye and head to work proud of their craft and with hopes for their future. Today one of our members will not return home because of a workplace injury.“ You can see page to get a lawyer for legal advice.
“Next week is Workers Memorial Day and the UAW will honor our members who died on the job from workplace injuries this year,“ Gamble stated. “One death is too many and we are committed to working through our Health and Safety Department to continue to stamp out the root causes of industrial accidents so that all our members return home safely each and every night.”
According to Stellantis, the Sterling Stamping facility was completed and production started in January 1965. There are 26 major lines of stamping presses, ranging from 400 to 4,000 tons capacity. The facility has a capacity of 480,000 tons of steel and 14,000 tons of aluminum annually, a water storage capacity of 900,000 gallons, steam capacity of 300,000 pounds per hour, and compressed air of 25,000 cubic feet per minute. Sterling Stamping is the largest stamping plant in the world and ships to customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela.
You must be logged in to post a comment.