The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued two interim safety recommendations in connection with the agency’s ongoing investigation into the fatal explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility in Pennsylvania on August 11, 2025.
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The explosion, which occurred when coke oven gas was released from process piping in the Battery 13/14 transfer area, killed two employees and injured 11 others. The blast also severely damaged nearby structures.
The CSB’s first recommendation calls on U.S. Steel to perform an evaluation of all buildings at the facility currently occupied or potentially occupied to identify and assess any possible hazards to workers based on where the buildings are located.
According to the CSB, the occupied buildings in the Battery 13/14 transfer area lacked protection against explosion hazards. The agency also noted that U.S. Steel rebuilt the damaged Battery 13 and 14 coke oven gas supply piping in nearly the same location and layout as it was prior to the explosion.
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While the company plans to relocate the control rooms for Battery 13/14 to a building approximately 100 feet away from the area, the CSB concluded that the safety of the new location remains uncertain without a facility siting evaluation. The CSB also found that the Clairton Coke Works facility operates four other coke batteries with personnel-occupied buildings located near potentially hazardous processes.
"Without a comprehensive facility siting evaluation, it is not clear that workers are being relocated to buildings that are safe from future fires, explosions or toxic releases," Investigator Drew Sahli said.
The CSB’s second recommendations calls on U.S. Steel to address and reduce any safety risks identified in the facility siting evaluation. The agency will include any additional findings, analyses and recommendations in its final investigation report.
