Fatal gas leak at Pittsburgh-area power plant draws OSHA fines
Here is a scannable, blog-ready summary of the incident based on the article:
Tragic Accident Leads to OSHA Fines at PA Power Plant
In August 2017, a tragic workplace accident at FirstEnergy’s Bruce Mansfield Power Station in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, resulted in the deaths of two contract workers and injuries to three others. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) subsequently issued heavy financial penalties to the companies involved.
Key Details of the Incident
- The Victims: Kevin Patrick Bachner (34) and John Michael Gorchock (42), both maintenance workers from Pittsburgh.
- The Cause: The workers were performing maintenance on a 24-inch pipe carrying water, ash slurry, and hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$)—a colorless, highly toxic, and flammable gas known for its “rotten egg” smell.
- The Environment: The exposure occurred within an enclosed, poorly ventilated vault inside the plant. Because hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, it rapidly collected in the confined space.
OSHA Findings & Fines
Following its investigation, OSHA cited both the plant operator and the contracting firm for failing to implement critical safety measures:
- FirstEnergy (Plant Operator): Fined $77,605 for failing to warn the contractors about the atmospheric and engulfment hazards inside the vault.
- Enerfab (Contracting Company): Fined $129,340 for failing to provide the crew with appropriate respiratory protection.
Status Update: Following the citations, both FirstEnergy and Enerfab moved to contest OSHA’s findings as part of the standard legal and settlement review process. The incident also became the subject of a federal lawsuit.
(Note: The Bruce Mansfield Power Station, historically Pennsylvania’s largest power plant, was later retired early in November 2019.)