An injector cooling block for holding at least one injector for introducing a medium into a metallurgical vessel. The injector cooling block is arranged in or on a wall of the metallurgical vessel. The injector block has at least one plate in which a cooling channel or a cooling bore through which cooling medium can flow is arranged. The cooling channel or cooling bore separate a hot zone from a cold zone. At least one measuring element for measuring temperature and/or mechanical elongation is arranged in the hot zone. The measuring element has at least one optical waveguide which is integrated into the hot zone or fastened to the hot zone.