Patrycjusz Handzel, aged 24, suffered 80% burns in the blast at Transition International in Penistone Road in March 2007.

He had been wearing a hooded sports jacket made of synthetic material and jeans rather than the recommended protective jacket and trousers suitable for working near molten metal.

The explosion was probably caused by water from a contaminated drum of scrap material entering an induction furnace melting ferro-titanium.

The company pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Geoff Clark said: "This was an horrific incident which resulted in the needless death of a young worker who had worked at the company for only a few short weeks.

"Not only was there a lack of adequate procedures to ensure that water or other dangerous contamination did not enter the furnace but, whilst it had indeed provided full personal protective equipment, the company had evidently taken no trouble to ensure that it was being worn in practice.

"Added to this workers were not being given appropriate information, instruction and training on the dangers of working with molten metal and of the need to follow safe working practices."

Mr Clark added: "It is simply not good enough to pay lip service to safety in this way. Employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their workers and HSE will not hesitate to prosecute in situations where people's lives are put at risk."

Mr Handzel, of Hinde House Lane, Firth Park, came to Sheffield from Poland in 2006.

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