Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1703259.015 - Hornady Manufacturing

Inspection Information - Office: Omaha Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 9:40 a.m. on October 13, 2023, Employee #1 and Employee #2, explosives workers, and Employee #3, a machine operator, were working for a small arms ammunition manufacturer. The employees were making the standard primer compound. Employee #2 and Employee #3 entered the mixing area and made four batches before break. At the end of the last batch, Employee #3 volunteered to remain behind and clean up the area so Employee #2 could go to break with Employee #1, who had been outside the area doing other work. At the end of the break Employee #1 and Employee #2 returned to the mixing area and Employee #3 left for break. Employee #1 and Employee #2 began preparations for the 5th batch of the day. Everything appeared to be functioning normally as Employee #1 ran the first cycle. At the end of the first cycle, Employee #1 went into the mixing room with the spatula to scrape it down. The scrape down usually takes a couple minutes. Employee #2 was just about to go check on Employee #1 when an explosion occurred. Employee #2 sustained a concussion and ruptured an eardrum and Employee #3 sustained a concussion. Employee #1 died as a result of the explosion and Employee #2 and Employee #3 received medical treatment without hospitalization.

Keywords: Ammunition, Blunt force, Blunt force trauma, Chemical Reaction, Concussion, Ear, Explosion, Explosive Mixing, Explosives, Flammable Liquid, Head, High Pressure, Machine operator, Misjudgment, Misjudgment of Hazardous Situation, Pressure, Process Safety, Struck By