(WHTM) — Two steelworkers are dead after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant. The blast happened on Monday just before 11 a.m.
On Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Steel and Allegheny County officials provided updates on the investigation that remains active and ongoing.
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One employee is not being identified at this time due to the family’s request. The other employee killed has been identified as 39-year-old Timothy Quinn, a.k.a. TQ.
“TQ was a special person, a devoted father of three, someone who I understood served as a mentor to the other steelworkers who were here, someone that apparently you would go to on a rough day when you needed a joke,” Shapiro said.
Scott Buckiso, a senior vice president at U.S. Steel, clarified there was only one explosion and it involved coke oven gas. He said a plume of smoke was seen after pressure was released from rupture gates that did their job after the blast.
“We were charging ovens and we were pushing coke out of ovens,” Buckiso said. “We had individuals that were prepping for a maintenance job in the area, and that’s where we are with the investigation right now.”
“I have assurance from U.S. Steel that they will continue to cooperate fully with our team at Allegheny County,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.
There is no word yet on how long the investigation will take.
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“It’s important for us as a company to make sure that it never happens again,” Buckiso said.
Ten people were injured in the explosion. Five have been released from the hospital. Air quality advisories near the plant have since lifted.
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