An explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2025, resulted in two fatalities and at least 10 injuries. The blast, followed by smaller explosions, sent black smoke into the sky and caused structural vibrations felt by nearby residents. Emergency workers searched the wreckage for a missing worker, one of whom was later found alive. The plant, a major coking facility in the Mon Valley region, continues operations with two batteries shut down. Officials reported no exceedance of federal air quality standards, though health concerns persist due to past pollution incidents. The incident follows a history of safety and environmental issues, including a 2010 explosion and a 2018 fire that damaged pollution control systems. U.S. Steel, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., has committed to a thorough investigation. Environmental groups have called for an independent review of the plant’s safety and operational fitness.

A powerful explosion occurred at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh on August 11, 2025, killing one worker and injuring at least ten others. The blasts happened in the reversing room of the facility's coking ovens, which is North America's largest coking operation. The incident triggered a major emergency response involving multiple fire and medical agencies. The facility has a history of safety and environmental issues, including a deadly 2009 explosion and a 2018 fire that disrupted pollution controls. Health concerns are significant, with studies showing coke workers have up to 2.5 times higher lung cancer rates and 7 times higher kidney cancer risk compared to the general population. Exposure to toxins like PAHs, sulfur dioxide, and silica dust is linked to respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health problems. Authorities have advised residents to shelter indoors temporarily due to pollution concerns, though no abnormal air quality levels were detected. Ongoing health monitoring, community screenings, and independent investigations into safety practices are being called for to address long-term health impacts and historical pollution exposure.

An explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works outside Pittsburgh killed two people and injured at least 10, damaging part of the facility and sending black smoke over nearby neighborhoods. The blast occurred around 10:50–10:51 a.m. on August 12, 2025, prompting a multi-agency response and a temporary 'stay indoors' advisory, which was later lifted due to no detected soot or sulfur dioxide exceedances. U.S. Steel executives provided limited details, with Chief Manufacturing Officer Scott Buckiso stating the cause is still under investigation and employees performed well in rescuing co-workers and shutting down gases. Chief Executive David B. Burritt pledged a thorough safety review, emphasizing a commitment to safe operations. The incident occurs at North America's largest coking operation, which has a history of pollution and safety issues. The event follows a recent $14–15 billion deal between U.S. Steel and Japan-based Nippon Steel, which included U.S. government oversight.

An explosion occurred at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pennsylvania, resulting in one fatality, 10 injuries, and one person still unaccounted for. The cause of the explosion is currently unknown, with officials investigating. The incident involved at least two coke oven batteries, both of which have been shut down. Authorities, including US Steel, Allegheny County, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are working together to determine the cause and ensure safety. The victim identified as Timothy Quinn, a 39-year-old steelworker and father of three, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Several injured individuals are being treated at hospitals within the Allegheny Health Network and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Officials have emphasized the ongoing search and rescue efforts and stated that the plant remains stable. The incident is part of a broader pattern of workplace injuries in the steel industry, with OSHA data showing frequent severe injuries over the past decade.

U.S. steelmakers are citing Trump’s tariffs on foreign steel as beneficial to their industry, with companies like Cleveland-Cliffs and Steel Dynamics raising prices by 14% and considering similar increases. They urge Canada to adopt protectionist trade policies, while economists warn of long-term negative effects on costs and consumer prices.