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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 301957643 - Sierra Chemical Co.
Inspection Information - Office: Nv-E-Reno 0953210
Inspection Nr: 301957643
Report ID: 0953210
Date Opened: 01/07/1998
Site Address:
Sierra Chemical Co.
Mustang Facility, Kean Canyon
Sparks, NV 89434
Mailing Address:
2302 Larkin Circle, Sparks, NV 89431
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2892
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 04/17/1998
Planning Guide: Health-Manufacturing
Emphasis: L:Psmpqv
Case Closed: 06/06/2000
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360242572 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 35 | 3 | 38 | |||
| Current Violations | 35 | 3 | 38 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $73,500 | $147,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $220,500 |
| Current Penalty | $73,500 | $147,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $220,500 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001A | Willful | 19100119 F01 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $49,000 | $49,000 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 2. | 01001B | Willful | 19100119 F01 ID | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 3. | 01001C | Willful | 19100119 F02 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 4. | 01001D | Willful | 19100119 F01 IF | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 5. | 01001E | Willful | 19100119 F03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 6. | 01002 | Willful | 19100119 I02 II | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $49,000 | $49,000 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 7. | 01003 | Willful | 19100119 I02 III | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $49,000 | $49,000 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 8. | 01004A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 9. | 01004B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 10. | 01005A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 11. | 01005B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 12. | 01006A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 13. | 01006B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 14. | 01007A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 15. | 01007B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 16. | 01008A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 17. | 01008B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 18. | 01009A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 19. | 01009B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 20. | 01010A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 21. | 01010B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 22. | 01011A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 23. | 01011B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 24. | 01012A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 25. | 01012B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 26. | 01013A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 27. | 01013B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 28. | 01014A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 29. | 01014B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 30. | 01015A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 31. | 01015B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 32. | 01016A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 33. | 01016B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 34. | 01017A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 35. | 01017B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 36. | 01018A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 37. | 01018B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 38. | 01019A | Serious | 19100119 G03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 39. | 01019B | Serious | 19100119 G01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | L - State Settlement | |
| 40. | 02001A | Serious | 19100119 C01 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 41. | 02001B | Serious | 19100119 C02 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 42. | 02001C | Serious | 19100119 C03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 43. | 02002A | Serious | 19100119 D01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 44. | 02002B | Serious | 19100119 D01 III | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 45. | 02002C | Serious | 19100119 D03 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 46. | 02002D | Serious | 19100119 D03 IF | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 47. | 02003 | Serious | 19100119 D02 IC | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 48. | 02004 | Serious | 19100119 D03 II | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 49. | 02005 | Serious | 19100119 E03 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 50. | 02006 | Serious | 19100119 E03 III | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 51. | 02007 | Serious | 19100119 E03 IV | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 52. | 02008 | Serious | 19100119 E03 V | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 53. | 02009 | Serious | 19100119 E03 VI | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 54. | 02010 | Serious | 19100119 E04 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 55. | 02011 | Serious | 19100119 E05 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 56. | 02012 | Serious | 19100119 J02 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 57. | 02013 | Serious | 19100119 J04 IV | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 58. | 02014 | Serious | 19100119 L01 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 59. | 02015 | Serious | 19100119 L03 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 60. | 02016 | Serious | 19100119 L05 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 61. | 02017 | Serious | 19100119 M01 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 62. | 02018A | Serious | 19100132 D01 I | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 63. | 02018B | Serious | 19100132 D02 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 64. | 02019A | Serious | 19101200 G02 IC1 | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $3,500 | $3,500 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 65. | 02019B | Serious | 19101200 G02 IV | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 66. | 02019C | Serious | 19101200 G02 V | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 67. | 02019D | Serious | 19101200 G02 VI | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 68. | 02019E | Serious | 19101200 G02 VIII | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 69. | 02019F | Serious | 19101200 G02 XI | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - | |
| 70. | 02019G | Serious | 19101200 G02 XII | 05/05/1998 | 05/08/1998 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 05/26/1998 | - |
Investigation Summary
Investigation Nr: 170707624
Event: 01/07/1998
Four employees killed in explosions at manufacturing plant
At 7:54 a.m. on January 7, 1998, Employees #1 through #4 were about to begin work in the production room at Sierra Chemical's Kean Canyon explosives manufacturing facility when two large blasts involving over 40,000 lb of explosives rocked the facility. All four workers were killed. The facility melted, mixed, and poured cast boosters in two separate production areas using large stainless steel steam-and-hot-water-heated melting and mixing kettles. The production room had been in service for less than four months and had several substantial changes compared to the old production area, including kettles heated by steam as opposed to hot water and direct drive mechanical agitation instead of hydraulic agitation. Possible causes of the explosions include raw material contamination, a cold start, or static ignition.
Keywords: AIR PRESSURE, STATIC ELECTRICITY, EXPLOSIVES, EXPLOSIVE MIXING, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 301957643 | Fatality | Concussion | Miscellaneous plant and system operators | ||
| 2 | 301957643 | Fatality | Concussion | Miscellaneous plant and system operators | ||
| 3 | 301957643 | Fatality | Concussion | Miscellaneous plant and system operators | ||
| 4 | 301957643 | Fatality | Concussion | Miscellaneous plant and system operators |