Conshohocken Elementary School students learn about working with liquid steel

Conshohocken Elementary School students who have been studying metals as part of their “Material Magic” science unit were able to look at and, in some cases, try on personal protective equipment that workers use to stay safe while working with liquid steel.

The equipment, which included everything from hard hats and protective glasses to Kevlar sleeves and aluminum gloves and jackets, was provided by Paul Horning, Section Manager of Heat Treatment and Finishing at the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plate finishing plant in Conshohocken. Mr. Horning is also the father of Lincoln, a second-grader in Courtland Jackson’s class. 

Mr. Horning was invited to speak to all second-graders on Jan. 9 in conjunction with their science unit. He talked with the children about the steel plate finishing plant, where he oversees the steel plate finishing process for metal that is used in things like nuclear submarines, tanks, and other military equipment. He explained to the students that he and his team are often working with liquid metal that is “white hot” and reaches a temperature of 2,700 degrees, and emphasized why it is so important to dress in protective clothing and equipment.

He showed students different types of gloves and mittens that workers wear to guard against burns, and passed around the items for students to try on. Some of the gloves had an aluminum coating to protect against sparks while others were made of rubber to protect against electrical currents. Students also got to see how a hard hat protects someone’s head from impact. 

The students learned that working in a plant like Cleveland-Cliffs can be very hot, so workers often wear a special vest with cooling packs underneath other layers of protective clothing, such as aluminum-coated jackets and spats that cover one’s lower legs. 

At the end of the presentation, Mr. Jackson and fellow second-grade teacher Jessie Lauer were challenged to put on the protective clothing in the right way, as Mr. Horning evaluated their efforts and students cheered.