Monday’s explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, part of U.S. Steel’s larger Mon Valley Works, is the worst industrial disaster in southwestern Pennsylvania in recent memory. As of this writing, one steelworker is confirmed to have died, while another is not accounted for. Ten people were injured.

The explosion also released massive amounts of noxious smoke and fumes. Thankfully, as of this writing, the Allegheny County Health Department has not logged major spikes in air pollution.

A disaster of this magnitude is beyond unacceptable. With the transfer of U.S. Steel’s assets to Japan’s Nippon Steel, it is absolutely essential that Nippon commission an independent investigation to understand what went wrong and how future explosions can be prevented, and to make sure that none of its other

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