Home / Disasters and Accidents / Two Dead: OSHA Cites U.S. Steel for Lax Safety
Two Dead: OSHA Cites U.S. Steel for Lax Safety
14 Feb
Summary
- OSHA fined U.S. Steel $118,214 and issued 10 citations.
- Inadequate procedures exposed workers to explosion hazard.
- The August blast killed two workers and injured 11 others.
Following a fatal August blast at its Clairton Coke Works facility, U.S. Steel has been fined $118,214 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The agency issued 10 citations, citing a series of incomplete, outdated, or inadequate procedures and practices that directly exposed employees to the explosion hazard.
The blast, which occurred while workers were flushing a gas valve for routine maintenance, resulted in the tragic deaths of two workers and injuries to 11 others, including contractors. The valve ruptured, releasing combustible coke oven gas, according to OSHA's findings.
U.S. Steel stated it is reviewing the OSHA report and will continue its dialogue with regulatory agencies. The company maintains that safety is a core value. The United Steelworkers union acknowledged OSHA's thorough investigation and pledged to collaborate with management to implement safety recommendations, particularly those concerning process safety management.
This incident adds to a history of accidents and explosions at the Clairton plant. The Chemical Safety Board is also conducting its own investigation into the explosion. Environmental regulators have also previously accused U.S. Steel of flouting environmental rules at the facility.
