Two individuals perished and ten were hurt in the blast at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works facility.
In Western Pennsylvania, an explosion rocked the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works on Monday morning. The incident, which occurred at around 10:50 a.m. local time, has claimed the lives of two workers and injured ten others.
According to preliminary investigations, the explosion was likely caused by a failure involving gas valves or a buildup of combustible material inside the coke ovens, specifically in the reversing room between batteries 13 and 15. The exact cause is still under investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and other agencies.
The plant has been stabilized, with batteries 13 and 14 shut down while the rest of the plant continues normal operations. Recovery efforts concluded after all individuals were accounted for, with five injured workers hospitalized in critical but stable condition, and others treated and released.
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis expressed his concern for the workers and those affected by the explosion. He is in constant communication with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and U.S. Steel officials.
U.S. Steel executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer Scott Buckiso stated that the rest of the coke works is "stable" and still operating. He also mentioned that the batteries were in good condition before the explosion, productivity-wise, environmental-wise, and safety-wise.
The Allegheny County Health Department has lifted a stay-inside order related to the explosion. They have not detected potentially harmful chemicals in the air at levels above federal standards. However, the department is actively monitoring the aftermath of the explosion.
Investigations are ongoing, involving multiple agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. These investigations aim to determine the definitive cause and recommend safety improvements to prevent future incidents. Company and government officials have pledged thorough investigation and measures to avoid recurrence.
NPR is reporting from Clairton, Pennsylvania, where a dark cloud of smoke was visible over the plant after the explosion. The transcript provided by NPR may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The NPR transcript used in this article was created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor.
This plant converts coal to coke, which is part of the steelmaking process. The plant has been a significant part of the local community for many years.
The audio for this article features a recording by Austin Davis and music by Six Organs of Admittance. The investigation at the site is still ongoing, according to local police.
[1] Allegheny County Health Department press release [2] Pennsylvania Governor's Office press release [3] U.S. Steel press release [4] Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives press release [5] U.S. Chemical Safety Board press release
- The explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in Western Pennsylvania, which resulted in the tragic loss of two lives and injured ten others, has sparked investigations by several agencies to determine the exact cause of the incident and recommend safety improvements.
- Despite the ongoing probe, the Allegheny County Health Department has lifted the stay-inside order following confirmation that the air quality around the plant does not contain potentially harmful chemicals at levels above federal standards.
- As the investigation unfolds, concerns about the safety of the plant and the general news regarding the accident have a significant impact on the local community and the broader environment, as well as the finance and energy industry that relies on the plant's operations.
