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Inspection Detail

Inspection: 100921915 - Atlas Powder Company

Inspection Information - Office: Kansas City Area Office

 

Inspection Nr: 100921915
Report ID: 0728500
Date Opened: 08/21/1989

Site Address:
Atlas Powder Company
Rt. Aa & E. Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 87, Joplin, MO 64801

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2892

NAICS: 0 

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 09/15/1989

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/30/1989

Related Activity
Type Activity Nr Safety Health
Accident 360354500
Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 2 2
Current Violations 2 2
Initial Penalty $1,620 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,620
Current Penalty $1,620 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,620
FTA Penalty $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Violation Items
# Citation ID Citaton Type Standard Cited Issuance Date Abatement Due Date Current Penalty Initial Penalty FTA Penalty Contest Latest Event Note
1. 01001 Serious 19100109 B01 10/04/1989 10/07/1989 $810 $810 $0 -  
2. 01002A Serious 19101200 D02 10/04/1989 10/07/1989 $810 $810 $0 -  
3. 01002B Serious 19101200 E01 II 10/04/1989 10/07/1989 $0 $0 $0 -  
4. 01002C Serious 19101200 H 10/04/1989 10/07/1989 $0 $0 $0 -  

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14418313
Event: 08/18/1989
TWO EMPLOYEES KILLED IN CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION

A PLANT WAS MAKING PENTOLITE, A CLASS OF EXPLOSIVE PRIMER. WORKERS WERE MIXING TNT AND PETN IN TWO KETTLES THAT WERE HEATED TO ABOUT 212 DEGREES BY HOT WATER AND STEAM. THE FLOW OF HOT WATER SLOWED DUE TO A PUMP MALFUNCTION, SOLIDIFYING THE TNT-PETN MIXTURE IN A PIPE BENEATH ONE KETTLE. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 TRIED TO REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE WITH THE PIPE IN PLACE USING HOT WATER. THIS DID NOT WORK, SO THE PIPE CONTAINING THE SOLID MIX WAS REMOVED AND PLACED ON THE FLOOR. ONE EMPLOYEE TRIED TO PRY THE STOPPAGE LOOSE USING A SCREW DRIVER AND A RAWHIDE MALLET. THIS CAUSED THE SHOCK-SENSITIVE TNT-PETN MIXTURE TO EXPLODE. THE EXPLOSION KILLED TWO EMPLOYEES AND INJURED TWO OTHERS.

Keywords: EXPLOSIVES, EXPLOSIVE MIXING, WORK RULES, CLOGGED, EXPLOSION, CHEMICAL

Investigated Inspection
# Inspection Age Sex Degree of Injury Nature of Injury Occupation
1 100921915 Fatality Other Occupation not reported
2 100921915 Fatality Other Occupation not reported
3 100921915 Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
4 100921915 Hospitalized injury Cut/Laceration Occupation not reported
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