OSHA Inspection: MPW INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and high-pressure injection hazards created by the use of high-pressure water jetting equipment to flush a gate valve that contained flammable coke oven gas:     a) Jobsite, U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:   On or about August 11, 2025, employees used a Butterworth brand water jetting system (model number: TF-450MB, MPW unit number: B130208) that was not equipped with a pressure relieve valve feature.  Employees were operating the high-pressure water jetting system without the ability to rapidly depressurize the system which can result in severe waterjet injuries.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to coke oven gas while using a high pressure water jetting system equipment to flush a gate valve:     a) Jobsite, U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, a Butterworth (legacy product line under Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems) brand water jetting system (model number: TF-450MB, MPW unit number: B130208) was being used to flush a Chapman Valve Manufacturing Company brand 18" cast iron gate valve (Model Number: L58 1/2).   The gate valve contained flammable coke oven gas.  A water pressure of approximately 3000 psi was being used to flush the double gate valve as the valve was flexed.  The gate valve ruptured during this process causing an uncontrolled release of coke oven gas and a subsequent explosion.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $11,823

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(2):  Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees entered:   a) Jobsite, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of 13/14 pad valve pit before employees accessed the pit.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including, but not limited to items (3)(i) through (3)(vi) of this paragraph:   a) Jobsite, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit required space entry operations prior to an employee entering the Pad Valve 13/14 pit.  The pit was classified by the host employer as a permit required confined space.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer did not test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before entry was authorized:  a) Jobsite, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not test conditions in the Pad Valve 13/14 pit to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed prior to an employee entering the pit.   The pit was classified by the host employer as a permit required confined space.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(e)(1):  Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:   a) Jobsite, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not ensure an entry permit was completed prior to an employee entering the Pad Valve 13/14 pit.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $16,550

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(f)(2)(i):  When outside servicing personnel were engaged in activities in a facility, the onsite employer and the outside employer did not inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures:   a) Facility, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the outside contractor and host employer did not inform each other of their respective lock out/ tag out procedures prior to the flushing of a Chapman Valve Company brand double gate valve (designated by the onsite employer as 13 Pad 13BPDUF) with high-pressure water jetting equipment.  The gate valve, which was not isolated or purged of flammable coke oven gas, split open during the flushing process which resulted in the uncontrolled release of coke oven gas and a subsequent explosion.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Abate by

Mar 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(g)(4):  The employer did not certify that the training required by 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1) through 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(3) had been accomplished:  a) Jobsite, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not maintain a written certification of permit required confined space training for each employee who entered the 13/14 Pad valve pit.

Issued

Feb 9, 2026

Abate by

Mar 6, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(iv): The employer did not certify that employee training had been accomplished and kept up to date:   a) Facility, 400 State Street, Clairton, PA 15025:  On or about August 11, 2025, the employer did not certify that employee training related to the employers' Energy Control Program had been accomplished and up to date.   Training records maintained by the employer showed that the employer did not certify that each employee who participated in the flushing of a Chapman Valve Company brand double gate valve (designated by the host employer as 13 Pad 13BPDUF) had completed training related to the employer's Energy Control Program.