There is a history of safety violations that get employees fired when they discover them.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...55geSXtxQdSxTD7r_r_Q

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:

...Some of the bunkers

https://www.google.com/maps/@3...IKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

When I read "bunker" I think of arched roof, earth-covered concrete structures, often called "igloos." The magazines in the Google aerial are much less sturdy, not sure what to call them. And putting them so close together limits the amount of explosives that can be stored. Well, if they're obeying quantity distance (QD) safety rules...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sigmund,

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:

...Some of the bunkers

https://www.google.com/maps/@3...IKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

When I read "bunker" I think of arched roof, earth-covered concrete structures, often called "igloos."

Look to the S/SE of those. Those things look more like day magazines, but just to the south are what appears to be earth covered magazines. The may not be part of the same facility, though.

quote:

Those things look more like day magazines, but just to the south are what appears to be earth covered magazines. The may not be part of the same facility, though.

Yes the same facility.

Almost every industrial fire I've heard of at all the companies and plants I've worked in was caused by an errant cigarette as the ignition source.

I'd wager that might have been a factor here.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Almost every industrial fire I've heard of at all the companies and plants I've worked in was caused by an errant cigarette as the ignition source.

I'd wager that might have been a factor here.

If they worked with flammable or volatile chemicals, I would agree. However, that seems unlikely in this situation. Most high explosives used in bulk ordnance are not sensitive enough for a cigarette to cause such an incident. I'm not aware of this company using primary explosives (the REALLY sensitive type) in bulk. Also, most explosives facilities are pretty anal about smoking and lighters on the premises. I'm not saying that things don't occur at smaller, private facilities. You aren't even supposed to take a lighter in your pocket into the areas I work in where live materials are handled.

Years ago I attended a client meeting at one of their facilities where they assembled 40mm grenades. They were off shift at the time so I got to look at the assembly area, which had tiled walls, extensive floor drains, and a whole bunch of waders on racks outside. Static electricity was such a big concern that they flooded the entire assembly room with 18 inches of water during shifts. Made me really appreciate the small margin for error in that business.

Holee sheite

I got some clarification on one of the main operations in the facility that went up- they recycled demilled Composition B. The received dirty CompB from a military ordnance depot where shells, bombs, etc. had the HE melted out and poured onto the concrete floor. Once it solidified, they then scraped it up, packed it into boxes, and sent it to AES. AES received them, "cleaned" and manually broke up the Comp B, then melt cast it into mining boosters for resale. There were 2 floors with multiple 600lb melt kettles going over 3 shifts. Composition B is not very sensitive (hence using it as a main charge filler for bombs/shells), but when it's contaminated with a bunch of concrete, dirt, junk, etc., things can change.