As a result of the explosion on August 11 at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton, about 15 miles outside of Pittsburgh, two people are dead and 10 others are injured.
Of those injured, five are in critical but stable condition and five have been treated and released from the hospital, according to officials, as reported by ABC News.
The explosion occurred in the battery operating area at the plant was reported at 10:51 a.m., and "multiple secondary explosions" were reported after that, Allegheny County officials said.
The explosion, followed by several smaller blasts, could be felt in the nearby community and prompted county officials to warn residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond, as reported by the Guardian.
The cause of the explosion at the plant where 1,300 people work is under investigation.
The plant has had safety issues before. The Guardian reported that in September 2009, a maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant. The following year, in July, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors.
Following the 2010 explosion, OSHA fined the company and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. The company appealed its citations and $143,500 in fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement.
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Opens Investigation
On August 12, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced it is sending a team to investigate the fatal explosions and fires.
“The CSB will work to determine the cause of this tragic incident and identify actions that can be taken to help ensure that a similar disaster like this does not happen again,” CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in a statement.
CSB Board Member Sylvia Johnson added, “This is a very serious incident that fatally injured one person and put others at serious risk. It should not have happened and potentially could have been prevented.”
