Worker dies in accident at Cleveland-Cliffs coke plant in Monessen

The victim was identified as 53-year-old Jeffrey Smith of Newell.

A Newell man was killed Sunday after becoming pinned between two door machines while working at the Cleveland-Cliffs coke plant in Monessen.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Jeffrey Smith, 53.

Smith was pronounced dead at 5:55 p.m., according to a report released Sunday by Coroner John A. Ackerman.

Emergency units were dispatched to the plant at 4:15 p.m., according to Westmoreland County Public Safety. First responders remained at the facility for hours following the incident.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

An autopsy will be performed by Dr. Jennifer Hammers of pathology. Smith’s cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology results.

Monessen Police Chief Dave Yuhasz said he could not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“This is a tragic incident that our officers responded to, and how and why this happened is still under investigation by all parties involved,” Yuhasz said.

Yuhasz expressed sympathy on behalf of the city to Smith’s family and friends following the tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim,” Yuhasz said.

Yuhasz said resources will be available to police officers and other first responders following the incident.

“Our police department and officers respond to every call without hesitation, to show up and offer help,” Yuhasz said. “All of our first responders here do, and speaking for the City of Monessen, there is not a single person — police, fire or EMS — that would hesitate when this type of call comes in to respond and do whatever they can.”

Monessen Municipal Fire Chief Delmar Hepple said Monessen Fire Department No. 1, Monessen police, Rostraver-West Newton Emergency Services and Allegheny Health Network Medic 944 responded to the scene, but Hepple was unable to provide additional details.

Westmoreland County Public Safety said no one else was injured in the incident.

Cleveland-Cliffs operates the industrial facility along the Monongahela River.

According to the company, the Monessen facility is a conventional coke plant that produces furnace coke and related carbon byproducts. The plant has two coke batteries, a byproducts recovery process plant, boiler operations plant, biological wastewater treatment facility and barge unloading facility.