A criminal lawsuit is now being processed in Sverdlovsk Region, with charges of labor safety violations resulting in a man’s death.

The accident occurred at Sredneuralsky Copper-Smelting Plant’s copper-smelting shop at 11:30 PM on August 7, 2011. The copper-smelting furnace was partially destroyed due to violations of the technological procedures, and some molten metal burst out, leaving a forty-nine-year-old dust – and gas-trapping unit operator with severe thermal burns; shortly after, the worker died at the scene of the accident.

What is more, some thirty-five-year old furnace operators and a thirty-nine-year-old foreman were also left with thermal injuries and then taken to Revda municipal hospital.

Criminal action was taken on the basis of a pre-inquiry inspection, with charges based on Article 143 (part 2) of the Russian Federation Criminal Code (labor safety violations resulting in involuntary manslaughter).