Chemical Safety Board releases update on investigation of fatal explosion at US Steel Clairton
"Tragedies like this must lead to change. Our investigation will identify not just what went wrong, but what must be done to ensure workers across this country are protected from similar hazards."
The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has released an update on the agency’s ongoing investigation into the fatal explosion at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works facility in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on 11th August.
Two US Steel employees were killed in the explosion. Five other workers were seriously injured and hospitalised – four US Steel employees and one employee of Veolia Water North America Operating Services. Six additional workers – five US Steel employees and an employee of MPW Industrial Services – were treated for injuries but not hospitalised.
CSB chairperson, Steve Owens, said, “The focus of the CSB’s investigation is understand what caused this terrible tragedy and identify actions that can be taken to prevent something like this from happening again.”
Preliminary information indicates that the explosion occurred during maintenance activities involving a gas isolation valve in the basement of the Battery 13/14 transfer area at the facility. US Steel employees, assisted by MPW personnel, were performing a procedure to close and reopen the valve. When they attempted to flush the valve seat with water, gas monitors began alarming. Less than one minute after a verbal and radio evacuation call was issued, an explosion occurred.
In addition to the deaths and injuries, the explosion caused extensive structural damage to the Battery 13/14 transfer area and resulted in prolonged search and rescue operations. The body of one of the fatally injured employees was not recovered until approximately nine hours after the incident.
Board member, Sylvia Johnson, said, "Tragedies like this must lead to change. Our investigation will identify not just what went wrong, but what must be done to ensure workers across this country are protected from similar hazards."
The gas isolation valve involved was a cast iron, 18-inch, double disc gate valve. The valve was manufactured more than 70 years ago in 1953 and had been refurbished in 2013. Post-incident examination revealed the valve body had split open along a fully circumferential crack. Additional valves recovered from the scene also showed signs of damage.
The CSB is continuing to collect evidence and conduct analysis in several key areas, including:
the cause and source of the gas release
metallurgical analysis of cast iron valve components
US Steel’s use of cast iron materials in its coke oven gas systems
policies and procedures for valve maintenance and exercising
US Steel’s overall safety management systems.
