EAST CHICAGO – Jason Ham, 33, of Union Township in Porter County, was killed in the finishing department of ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor East on Wednesday night.

            Ham was pronounced dead at 10:58 p.m. The Lake County coroner’s office said the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

            A joint management and United Steelworkers union investigation has begun to determine the cause of the accident. Also investigating is the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

            Local 1010 President Tom Hargrove said Ham worked as a maintenance mechanic.

            Ham’s death is the second in 15 months at the mill. Angela Smith, 37, Merrillville, was killed July 26, 2009 in the 80-inch hot strip mill when she was struck by a gantry crane. ArcelorMittal was fined $12,250 after that accident because of four “serious” safety violations.