SteelNews.com Article
Horsehead Reports Explosion, Two Fatalities at PA Plant
Jul. 26, 2010 Horsehead Holding Corp. reported that on July 22 an explosion occurred at its Horsehead Corp. Monaca, Pa., facility, resulting in two fatalities and injuries to at least two employees in the plant's refining facility.
The company is honoring the request of the families to not release the names of the deceased and injured employees. Both injured employees were treated and released from local hospitals yesterday evening.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our co-workers and most concerned about our employees and their families; our initial efforts are directed to helping them,” the company's President and CEO, Jim Hensler, said. “The exact cause of the explosion is unknown and is currently under investigation."
The Monaca plant produces zinc metal at its smelting operations and refined zinc metal and zinc oxide at its refining operation. The zinc refinery has been temporarily shut down pending an accident investigation. The company says it is assessing the damage and the time it will take to complete repairs.
The smelter will continue to produce zinc metal during this assessment period. The company has notified its insurers and says it will be actively working with customers to minimize supply disruptions.
Horsehead Holding Corp. is the parent company of Horsehead Corp., a leading U.S. producer of specialty zinc and zinc-based products and a leading recycler of electric arc furnace dust, and of The International Metals Reclamation Co. (INMETCO), a leading recycler of metals-bearing wastes and a processor of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries in North America. Horsehead, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., employs approximately 1000 people and has seven facilities throughout the U.S.