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Mint
7 days ago
- Mint
Steelworkers were pushing coke out of ovens when deadly explosion rocked Pennsylvania plant
CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — Workers were pushing coke out of huge ovens and preparing for maintenance when an explosion rocked a U.S. Steel plant outside Pittsburgh, a company executive said Tuesday, a day after the blast killed two workers. The explosion, which was powerful enough to shake nearby homes, injured more than 10 other steelworkers, including one who spent hours trapped in rubble. It also knocked down a wall, scorched a pickup truck and sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air. Initially, the plant's own fire department and local responders rescued some of the workers. When it was determined that the area wasn't stable enough for the rescue workers to continue their efforts, a specialized rescue team went in, said Matthew Brown, chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services. The Pennsylvania Urban Search & Rescue Strike Team One, based in Pittsburgh, stabilized a wall and used a specialized camera to detect the trapped worker's location and then carefully removed the debris to free him. 'That's what gave us that success,' Brown said. U.S. Steel's chief manufacturing officer, Scott Buckiso, said workers were conducting routine operations at the time of the accident. Two loud booms that followed the initial blast were initially thought to be subsequent explosions, but he said they were from the activation of two relief pressure valves — a safety mechanism that operated as expected. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation, and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters Tuesday that workers deserve an 'answer for what happened.' "We owe them the answers to their questions, and we owe them to never forget the sacrifices that occurred here yesterday,' Shapiro said. Before arriving at a news conference, he met with family members of a worker who died. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato told reporters she had assurances from U.S. Steel that the company would continue to cooperate fully with investigators. 'We all share a common goal. We want to get to the bottom of what happened, and we want to prevent it from happening ever again,' Innamorato said. Shapiro also used the news conference to pay tribute to the workers who died. The county medical examiner's office identified one of the dead as Timothy Quinn, 39. A second worker was not identified, with his family requesting privacy. The Allegheny County Police Department said five people were hospitalized in critical but stable condition Monday night, and five others were treated and released. Shapiro described Quinn as a devoted father of three known to his friends as 'TQ.' He served as a mentor and leader to other workers and was known for cracking jokes. The second-generation steelworker followed in his father's footsteps and was a 'mama's boy' who, after working long shifts, would take care of his mother and look after his children and his girlfriend's two children. 'His life was cut too short because of what happened here at this plant,' Shapiro said. 'We have a responsibly to remember his legacy, to make sure his memory lives on ... We will make sure his children know his dad was a special man, a good man and a man who helped build this community with his hands the way his father did.' U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt called it an 'extraordinarily difficult day' for a U.S. Steel family that has 'suffered heartbreaking losses.' According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. The company, he said, is working closely with local, state and federal authorities. He would not speculate about the cause of the explosion. 'We will share as much as we can, as soon as we can, and we will take every step necessary to keep our people safe,' Burritt said. Deanna Forkey was working behind the counter at the Hometown Burgers & Deli, which her family owns, near the plant when she heard the explosion. She said the restaurant door popped open. 'When I looked out, all you could see was black smoke,' she said. 'Explosions over there aren't really uncommon. We hear them a lot. But that one obviously was much worse.' She said many plant workers are regulars at the restaurant. 'You start to build a little bit of a relationship," Forkey said. "So it kind of pulls a little harder at the heartstrings.' It's not the first explosion at the plant. A maintenance worker was killed in a blast in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a 'buildup of combustible material' that ignited, causing an audible boom, officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment but were not seriously injured. Pittsburgh attorney John Gismondi represented the widow of the worker who was killed in the 2009 explosion at the plant and three men who were badly burned in the 2010 explosion. In a phone interview Tuesday, Gismondi said his immediate thought a day earlier was 'Oh my God, not again at Clairton.' Both lawsuits were settled out of court for 'significant' amounts, he said. 'There was no question in both of those cases we established that appropriate safety protocols weren't followed, and that's what led to the explosions,' he said. 'There's a lot of gas on the premises. That's fine, it's part and parcel of what they do. But gas is a dangerous substance, and you need to make sure safety protocols are being followed.' In the 2010 case, Gismondi's clients claimed managers directed them to repair a live gas line even after an alarm went off warning of high levels of natural gas. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River, converts coal to coke, a key component in the steelmaking process. It is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what's known as coke gas — a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Casey reported from Boston. Associated Press reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, Beatrice Dupuy in New York City and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed to this report.
CNN
12-08-2025
- Business
- CNN
Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 2 dead, 10 injured
An explosion rocked a US Steel plant outside Pittsburgh on Monday, leaving two dead and 10 others injured, including a person who was rescued from the smoldering rubble after hours of being trapped. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant in Clairton started late Monday morning. Officials said they had not isolated the cause of the blast. The rumbling from the explosion, and several smaller blasts that followed, jolted the community about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. 'It felt like thunder,' Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. 'Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building.' At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, US Steel's chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. He said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. Allegheny Health Network said it treated seven patients from the plant and discharged five within a few hours. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it is treating three patients at UPMC Mercy, the region's only level one trauma and burn center. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. In a statement, the United Steelworkers, which represents many of the Clairton plant's workers, said it had representatives on the ground at the plant and would work to ensure there is a thorough investigation. David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued US Steel over pollution, said there needed to be 'a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating.' US Steel CEO David B. Burritt said the company would investigate. It's not the first explosion at the plant. A maintenance worker was killed in a blast in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. US Steel appealed its citations and fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a 'buildup of combustible material' that ignited, causing an audible 'boom,' officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment but were not seriously injured. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major US Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what's known as coke gas — made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The county health department initially told residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors, but lifted the advisory later Monday. It said its monitors didn't detect levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. In June, US Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a 'historic partnership,' a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after US Steel shareholders approved it. This story has been updated with additional information.
The Mainichi
12-08-2025
- The Mainichi
Officials are investigating the cause of a Pennsylvania steel plant explosion that killed 2
CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) -- Investigators are working to determine the cause of an explosion rocked a steel plant outside Pittsburgh, leaving two dead and more than 10 others injured, including a person who was rescued from the smoldering rubble after hours of being trapped. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday Monday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant in Clairton started late Monday morning. Officials said they had not isolated the cause of the blast. The rumbling from the explosion, and several smaller blasts that followed, jolted the community about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. Amy Sowers, who was sitting on her porch less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. "I could see smoke from my driveway," she said. "We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction." Sowers, 45, grew up in Clairton and has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. "Lives were lost again," Sowers said. "How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens?" Investigating the blast's cause At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steel's chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. He said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. The county medical examiner's office identified one of the victims as Timothy Quinn, 39. The Allegheny County Police Department said five people were hospitalized in critical but stable condition Monday night, and five others had been treated and released. Multiple individuals also were treated for injuries at the scene, but the department said it did not have an exact number. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. In a statement, the United Steelworkers, which represents many of the Clairton plant's workers, said it had representatives on the ground at the plant and would work to ensure there is a thorough investigation. David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be "a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating." U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt said the company would investigate. It's not the first explosion at the plant. A maintenance worker was killed in a blast in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a "buildup of combustible material" that ignited, causing an audible "boom," officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment but were not seriously injured. Air quality concerns The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steelmaking process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what's known as coke gas -- made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The county health department initially told residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors, but lifted the advisory later Monday. It said its monitors didn't detect levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. The US Steel buyout U.S. Steel has been a symbol of industrialization since it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and others. It's been the icon of the American steel industry that once dominated the world market until Japan, then China, became preeminent steelmakers over the past 40 years. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a "historic partnership," a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it.
Chicago Tribune
12-08-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Officials are investigating the cause of a Pennsylvania steel plant explosion that killed 2
CLAIRTON, Pa. — Investigators are working to determine the cause of an explosion that rocked a steel plant outside Pittsburgh, leaving two dead and more than 10 others injured, including a person who was rescued from the smoldering rubble after hours of being trapped. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday Monday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant in Clairton started late Monday morning. Officials said they had not isolated the cause of the blast. The rumbling from the explosion, and several smaller blasts that followed, jolted the community about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. Amy Sowers, who was sitting on her porch less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. 'I could see smoke from my driveway,' she said. 'We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction.' Sowers, 45, grew up in Clairton and has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. 'Lives were lost again,' Sowers said. 'How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens?' At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steel's chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. He said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. The county medical examiner's office identified one of the victims as Timothy Quinn, 39. The Allegheny County Police Department said five people were hospitalized in critical but stable condition Monday night, and five others had been treated and released. Multiple individuals also were treated for injuries at the scene, but the department said it did not have an exact number. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. In a statement, the United Steelworkers, which represents many of the Clairton plant's workers, said it had representatives on the ground at the plant and would work to ensure there is a thorough investigation. David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be 'a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating.' U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt said the company would investigate. It's not the first explosion at the plant. A maintenance worker was killed in a blast in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a 'buildup of combustible material' that ignited, causing an audible 'boom,' officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment but were not seriously injured. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steelmaking process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what's known as coke gas — made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The county health department initially told residents within 1 mile of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors, but lifted the advisory later Monday. It said its monitors didn't detect levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. U.S. Steel has been a symbol of industrialization since it was founded in 1901 by J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie and others. It's been the icon of the American steel industry that once dominated the world market until Japan, then China, became preeminent steelmakers over the past 40 years. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a 'historic partnership,' a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it.
New Indian Express
12-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Probe underway into deadly explosion at Pittsburgh-area steel plant that killed two
CLAIRTON: Investigators are working to determine the cause of an explosion that rocked a steel plant outside Pittsburgh, leaving two dead and more than 10 others injured, including a person who was rescued from the smoldering rubble after hours of being trapped. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday Monday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant in Clairton started late Monday morning. Officials said they had not isolated the cause of the blast. The rumbling from the explosion, and several smaller blasts that followed, jolted the community about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. Amy Sowers, who was sitting on her porch less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. 'I could see smoke from my driveway,' she said. 'We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction.' Sowers, 45, grew up in Clairton and has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. 'Lives were lost again,' Sowers said. 'How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens? Investigating the blast's cause At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steel's chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. He said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. The county medical examiner's office identified one of the victims as Timothy Quinn, 39. The Allegheny County Police Department said five people were hospitalized in critical but stable condition Monday night, and five others had been treated and released. Multiple individuals also were treated for injuries at the scene, but the department said it did not have an exact number.
