OSHA Fines US Steel Contractor After Fatal Explosion
Federal investigators proposed $179,000 in penalties following a 2025 blast at the Clairton Coke Works that killed two.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Feb 19, 2026
OSHA has cited United States Steel Corp. and a cleaning services contractor following a 2025 explosion at the Clairton Coke Works plant that killed two workers and injured 12 others.
Federal investigators determined that United States Steel Corp. and MPW Industrial Services Inc. exposed employees to explosion, struck-by, and high-pressure injection hazards. According to OSHA, U.S. Steel failed to implement required safety management and energy control practices during hazardous work involving flammable gas.
OSHA also found that MPW Industrial Services failed to provide a relief valve for a high-pressure water system. The contractor also allegedly failed to coordinate energy control practices for work involving flammable gas.
“Federal safety inspectors determined that United States Steel Corp. failed to use required safety management and energy control practices for hazardous work involving flammable gas,” the agency stated in the release.
As a result of the investigation, OSHA cited U.S. Steel with seven serious and one other-than-serious violation, proposing $118,214 in penalties. MPW Industrial Services faces four serious and two other-than-serious violations with proposed penalties of $61,473.
Both employers have 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.