Three workers died and five others were injured on Wednesday after a container of molten iron spilled at a steel works in East China`s Shandong province.

The accident happened at 7 am at the plant owned by Shandong Fulun Iron and Steel Co Ltd in Laiwu city, said a statement issued by the city government. The tank suspended from a crane fell when the sling suddenly failed, said a spokesman with the company. The molten metal killed three workers at the scene. Five others suffered slight burns and were taken to hospital.

An initial investigation showed the accident might have been triggered by a crane malfunction, according to the spokesman. City work safety officials are still investigating the cause of the accident.