A deadly explosion that rocked a Nebraska bullet manufacturing plant on Oct. 13, killing an employee and injuring two others, has been ruled accidental by state fire officials.
After an investigation, the Nebraska Fire Marshal’s Office determined the explosion at Hornady Manufacturing occurred during the mixing process of a primer compound.
Adriana Alvarez, 32, died in the 9:57 a.m. explosion, while two other employees required treatment at a local hospital before they were released the same day.
Fire officials said the explosion occurred in the PVE West Building of Hornady’s 150,000-square-foot distribution facility near Grand Island that opened in 2018.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reportedly is investigating the incident.
The Alda Fire Department, Wood River Fire Department, Grand Island Rural Fire Department, Grand Island Fire Department, Hall County Attorney’s Office, and Hall County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Company owners Steven and Jason Hornady posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they are “devastated for our employee, their family, and loved ones, as well as the entire Hornady team.”
“We are working with all agencies to investigate the cause. This production incident was isolated to our primary facility and did not impact any of the manufacturing facilities. We appreciate the outreach we have received, and we grieve the loss of one of our own.”
The hazardous materials incident was not the first to occur at the company’s Grand Island plant.
Hazardous Process
Modern primers use shock-sensitive chemicals that, when struck, initiate the combustion that propels the bullet or projectile.According to Outdoor Life, the chemical mixture (primer compound) is “the most dangerous substance in the world of firearms and ammunition manufacturing.
“Though gunpowder is flammable, and the chemicals used to blue steel barrels are nothing you’d want to gargle with, the mishandled primer compound will leave nothing but a smoking crater behind.
“There’s a reason that each individual primer gets its own protective cutout in the box it is shipped in.”
Founded in 1949, Hornady Manufacturing produces many bullets and ammunition for the global market, including lower recoil 12-gauge shotgun shells and .45 caliber rounds for handguns.
The company has 201 employees and revenues exceeding $58 million in 2022, according to zippia.com.
