GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is imposing fines on a Grand Island manufacturing plant following a fatal explosion last fall. The incident at the Hornady Manufacturing plant resulted in the tragic death of 32-year-old Adriana Alvarez and injuries to two other employees. The explosion occurred in the chemical compound building, located at 8318 W Old Potash Highway, about four miles northwest of Alda on the former site of the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant.
According to the State Fire Marshal’s office, the explosion was determined to be accidental and happened during the mixing process of the primer compound. OSHA investigators discovered two safety violations related to the explosion. The first violation involved a failure to protect employees from explosion hazards, as Hornady did not specify the maximum number of employees allowed in the building during the explosion.
The second violation accused Hornady of not adequately protecting employees from actual explosions, as an open blast door between the rooms led to an employee in the adjacent room suffering concussive force injuries. The total fine amount imposed by OSHA is $28,807, and the company has 15 days to respond to the order.
Local4 reached out to Hornady for comment, and a response is still pending. The tragic incident at the manufacturing plant underscores the importance of ensuring workplace safety to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.