"Heat Wave Warning Outside, 1,500 Degrees Inside": Workers Battle Blast Furnaces

"It is naturally hot inside the blast furnace, but with outside temperatures so high these days, the physical toll of the work is even greater."

At Blast Furnace No. 4 in the No. 2 Ironmaking Plant of POSCO's Gwangyang Works in Geumho-dong, Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, on the 29th.

Although wearing heat-resistant suits, stepping inside the blast furnace hits the face and chest simultaneously with a wave of hot air.

With every breath, heated air rushed into the lungs, and sweat began streaming down beneath the safety helmets after just a few steps.

As red-hot molten metal flowed slowly beneath their feet, the surrounding air shimmered with the red glow and heat radiating through the steel structures. The closer one got to the main runner, the more it felt like the face and neck were burning.

In this facility where iron ore and coal are melted to produce molten metal reaching 1,500 degrees Celsius, workers moved around the main runner area, using long square timber poles to chip away solidified debris.

When the tip of the timber came close to the molten metal, sparks flew in all directions. Every time a surge of intense heat rolled in, the workers pulled back briefly before resuming their tasks.

Despite wearing 11 pieces of protective gear, including heat-resistant suits, safety helmets, protective goggles, masks, and safety shoes, the heat seeped deep inside the equipment.

After working for 40 minutes, they dragged their exhausted bodies to an air-conditioned break room for a 20-minute rest to slowly recover.

Ice boxes filled with ice water were placed throughout the work site, and workers grabbed water bottles the moment their shifts ended to cool down their overheated bodies.

After peeling off sweat-soaked protective gear one by one and catching their breath, they geared up again and headed back toward the blast furnace.

Normally, workers would cool off outside the workshop by catching the breeze, but on this day, as the heat wave continued, stepping outside was met with hot and humid air.

"It is always hot inside the blast furnace whether it is summer or winter, but these days the heat persists even when you come outside, making it easier to get exhausted than usual," one worker said. "We are working while frequently drinking water and strictly observing break times."

The molten metal produced at the ironmaking plant is transferred to the steelmaking plant, where it goes through continuous casting, hot rolling, and cold rolling processes to become slabs (flat steel plates with a thickness of 45 mm or more), which are the basic material for steel products.

At the steelmaking plant as well, heat spread throughout the workshop every time high-temperature molten metal was poured into the equipment.

Amid the heat accumulated in the buildings and facilities, workers alternately checked instrument panels and molten metal to ensure the processes ran smoothly.

"No matter how many years you work here, the front of the blast furnace remains intimidating and hot," said Manager Kim, who has guarded the blast furnace site for 20 years. "Still, my colleagues and I protect this site with the pride of producing the world's highest-quality steel."

The Gwangyang Works produces 62,000 tons of molten metal daily, turning out more than 63,000 tons of steel products every day.

As of 2:00 PM on this day, the daytime high in Gwangyang-eup reached 36.7°C (98°F).

A heavy heat wave warning had been in effect for four days until the 28th, and a heat wave warning is currently in place.

An official from Gwangyang Works said, "We are providing hydration drinks, cool towels, and rest areas for employees exhausted by the extreme heat. We are responding to the heat wave by recording sensible temperatures and halting work or adjusting schedules according to established standards."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.