Primer truck explosion

[murf205]

Thursday afternoon a primer truck exploded at the East Alton Ammunition Plant (Winchester) killing the 60 yr old driver. Our condolences to the family for their loss. Not many things are sadder than a man or woman getting up everyday and going to their job and loosing their life in the process. This was the Shotshell primer facility if I read the press release right. It will certainly impact the priming compound supply negatively. To all of the Castboolit people who are making their own or attempting to, please exercise even more caution.
Murf

[Martin Luber]

Chemical supply or finished product? I would guess the former. Truck drivers everywhere have a vital and dangerous job and are often taken for granted. We see it daily with idiots in cars. I do everything I can to make their day better. Aside: My uncle drove truck during the Chosin campaign in Korea and had his partner killed right beside him. Another Gt Uncle was a Pearl Harbor veteran. Prayers and gratitude.

[GregLaROCHE]

With all the safety procedures and restrictions they have for BP, I’m surprised something like that could have happened.

[P Flados]

A snippet of info that I saw in a AP press release:

"Bettorf was the driver of a semitrailer loaded with shotgun shell primers that exploded while being transported inside the Winchester ammunition plant owned by Olin Corp., Nonn said Friday."

[dverna]

It would be interesting to see a photo of the aftermath.

Trying to figure out how they got touched off. Maybe static electricity?

[steveu]

I wonder what else was in the trailer, mixed load????

[NSB]

I think there’s something missing from this story. About twenty years ago I was shooting Team Challenge Matches that were sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and one of their reps attended almost all the matches. We spent a lot of time talking to him for a few years and he was a great resource for data and statistics. He once told us that they deliberately attempted to get a load of primers to blow up to see what would happen. Like tossing rimfire ammo into a burn barrel, they just “popped” off at a rapid rate but did not explode. I suspect that the truck driver didn’t die in an explosion, but perhaps burned to death in a fire inside the plant. More info is needed here.

[El Bibliotecario]

I agree with the previous poster that something is missing. I am reminded of the many accounts of firearms discharging while someone was allegedly cleaning their gun.

[Bigslug]

When Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule was finally found, his story of him NOT deliberately triggering the explosive bolts on the hatch was confirmed. It seems they did in fact "Just blow".

It's possible that we're just looking at the unfortunate law of averages. In my job, I get to handle A LOT of factory cartridges prior to them being fired by others. While the vast majority of it is very good stuff, I've seen bullets not swaged to final shape, bullets loaded backwards, case mouths crushed, primers seated backwards and sideways, flash holes not drilled in primer pockets, single "wrong" cartridges of another part number in the box, +P brass used to make a non-+P load, and dud primers. If you make and sell something by the billions, you're going to miss sometimes.

But the vital question here - what touched it off?

[TD1886]

I think there’s something missing from this story. About twenty years ago I was shooting Team Challenge Matches that were sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and one of their reps attended almost all the matches. We spent a lot of time talking to him for a few years and he was a great resource for data and statistics. He once told us that they deliberately attempted to get a load of primers to blow up to see what would happen. Like tossing rimfire ammo into a burn barrel, they just “popped” off at a rapid rate but did not explode. I suspect that the truck driver didn’t die in an explosion, but perhaps burned to death in a fire inside the plant. More info is needed here.

Just an interesting note. When I was a kid almost everyone burned their paper trash and usually in 55 gallon drums. My uncle was burning the paper trash one day and a 22 was in the trash and went off. He said, can't remember, either the case or the bullet when through the drum wall and stuck in his skin. Before I get comments on it going through the wall of the drum remember those drums got pretty deteriorated with fire in them and being exposed to the elements outside, so the are pretty thin. I would think the case being lighter then the bullet that it would be the part that went flying. Personally I don't think that really happened, don't know.

[Bloodman14]

Mythbusters used a dead short in an old truck testing a story that two 'good 'ol boys' used a .22 as a fuse. The brass went flying and did minor damage to Buster.

[Maineboy]

A link to one of the news reports. It doesn't say much.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-ammunition-factory-explosion-kills-1-employee

[mdi]

I too, would need more info to be sure of this report (no offence to the OP intended). Been around reloading for over 40 years and have never heard of primers "just going off, unattended". I've seen the videos of truck loads of ammunition and components purposely set on fire, primers arced with voltage and a couple other attempts to see how dangerous ammo and components can be with very few dangerous results...

[mehavey]

Unless the primers were all jumbled together -- bare naked* -- in multiple huge drums,
I can't imagine any circumstance wherein what was described could happen.
*(actually, not even then)

I'll wait for Paul Harvey....

[D.Bullets]

It would be interesting to see a photo of the aftermath.

Trying to figure out how they got touched off. Maybe static electricity?
Found pic of truck. I was expecting more property distruction.

315369

[Mk42gunner]

I have not been following this story, but am reminded of several educational safety movies while in the Navy.

A surprisingly high percentage of the explosive mishaps began with: "It started in the priming area." Didn't matter if they were talking of high explosives, artillery or naval propellant charges, or small arms ammo.

Robert

[charlie b]

My condolences to the family.

The pic of the truck looks like it is a special rig for some kind of processing. It could be that it is just one of the trucks they use in primer production.

[murf205]

That's what I thought too, Charlie. It looks like it might be an dedicated in plant vehicle rather that a larger truck we usually associate with when the industrial setting is imagined. The report I read said he died from blunt force trauma. Dangerous job no matter the safety precautions taken.

[Char-Gar]

Years ago a pallet of Federal primers went Kaboom. That is when they changed the packaging. They were once sold in five groove plastic containers. The primers were nested ten to a groove on their sides against each other. You know how they are packaged today.

My best guess is that the current explosion was caused by human negligence.

[TD1886]

Years ago a pallet of Federal primers went Kaboom. That is when they changed the packaging. They were once sold in five groove plastic containers. The primers were nested ten to a groove on their sides against each other. You know how they are packaged today.

My best guess is that the current explosion was caused by human negligence.

That was many many many years ago they changed that.

[deltaenterprizes]

That was many many many years ago they changed that.
I remember when that happened!
You calling me an old fart?��
It was in the late 80s or early 90s. All of the sloppy reloaders at the plate matches were having problems because they didn’t seat their primers completely and Federal being soft were forgiving and the other brands were not!

[NSB]

Years ago a pallet of Federal primers went Kaboom. That is when they changed the packaging. They were once sold in five groove plastic containers. The primers were nested ten to a groove on their sides against each other. You know how they are packaged today.

My best guess is that the current explosion was caused by human negligence.
As an experienced safety manager and engineer, I can tell you that after almost fifty years of industrial experience that 99.9% of ALL accidents are caused by human negligence. They aren’t accidents, they’re people not diligently following documented safety processes and procedures. I still feel sorry for the people who get hurt, but it’s both their job and management’s job to make sure the rules are followed.

[TNsailorman]

That is my experience in the many years I was in manufacturing in one position or another. Too many people get in a hurry to go to the break shack or to go to lunch and take shortcuts. NSB is dead on in his comments. We did everything we could through training and re-training but there were always a small number of people who just would not take the time to do things right. my experience anyway, james

[dverna]

As an experienced safety manager and engineer, I can tell you that after almost fifty years of industrial experience that 99.9% of ALL accidents are caused by human negligence. They aren’t accidents, they’re people not diligently following documented safety processes and procedures. I still feel sorry for the people who get hurt, but it’s both their job and management’s job to make sure the rules are followed.

Exactly. Another example is the sub that just imploded. There are standards and protocols that keep people safe. Someone too lazy, or cheap or ignorant is the root cause of most "accidents".

Sad that a man lost his life and his family their dad/husband. It should be a wakeup call but many people think crap will not happen to them.

[popper]

Then there is the LC primer plant explosion. There are NO accidents, just undesired consequences. Primers are percussive devices so there is an immdeiate LARGE explosion. Seems like they were shotgun primers.

[elmacgyver0]

As a teenager I was sitting by a campfire when suddenly a bunch of loud pops went off and I felt something hitting my legs.
I quickly kicked the offending are of the fire away from the campfire and found what was left of a box of .22 LR ammunition.
I salvaged what was left, about 35 rounds and was a happy camper.
I seriously doubt a 22 casing would make its way thru the side of a burn barrel unless it happened to find an air hole or was contained in some way to build up pressure, if it could I would have been in a world of hurt.

[GregLaROCHE]

Just an interesting note. When I was a kid almost everyone burned their paper trash and usually in 55 gallon drums. My uncle was burning the paper trash one day and a 22 was in the trash and went off. He said, can't remember, either the case or the bullet when through the drum wall and stuck in his skin. Before I get comments on it going through the wall of the drum remember those drums got pretty deteriorated with fire in them and being exposed to the elements outside, so the are pretty thin. I would think the case being lighter then the bullet that it would be the part that went flying. Personally I don't think that really happened, don't know.

He could have been burnt by the case, but it would never have gone through a metal drum before. I’m not recommending anyone to do this, but growing up we played with a lot of 22 bullets. You could throw them on the sidewalk in the right way and they would go off. Never any damage. Perhaps we were lucky with our eyes. Later we would throw some in a campfire, just pops. Later, in my thirties, I had a party. At around 1am things were slowing down. I threw a dozen or so into the burning fireplace. A few small embers flew out, but everyone woke up and started partying again.

[BLAHUT]

Thursday afternoon a primer truck exploded at the East Alton Ammunition Plant (Winchester) killing the 60 yr old driver. Our condolences to the family for their loss. Not many things are sadder than a man or woman getting up everyday and going to their job and loosing their life in the process. This was the Shotshell primer facility if I read the press release right. It will certainly impact the priming compound supply negatively. To all of the Castboolit people who are making their own or attempting to, please exercise even more caution.
Murf

Unforchinate the driver lost his life, prayers go out for him and his family.. Too bed a load of primers was lost. When ammo is burned, the brass flies, not the projectile, this sets off more, in a chain reaction, now black powder, loose or in bags/kegs will explode.

[Land Owner]

Get past the ads and lead-ins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c

Above is SAAMI testing of 100's of thousands of rounds of ammunition (shooting, burning) for the purpose of exposing myths in firefighting.

Below is the devastating explosion of a solid rocket fuel manufacturing plant in Utah (ammonium perchlorate is NOT used in ammunition primers), and one of the largest explosions ever caught on camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KuGizBjDXo


Generally speaking small arms primers consist of an explosive, an oxidizer, a fuel, and a frictionator. Other compounds act as sensitizers and binders.

Explosives used include azides, fulminates, diazo compounds, nitro or nitroso compounds, for example, lead or silver azide, mercury fulminate, lead styphnate, TNT, and PETN (which also act as sensitizers).

Oxidizers used include barium nitrate, potassium chlorate, lead dioxide, and lead nitrate.

Fuels used include antimony sulfide (which also acts as a frictionator), gum arabic (which also acts as a binding agent), calcium silicide (which also acts as a frictionator), nitrocellulose, carbon black, lead thiocya-nate, and powdered metals such as aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, or their alloys.

Frictionators used include ground glass and aluminum powder (which also acts as a fuel).

Sensitizers used include tetracene, TNT, and PETN.

Binders used include gum arabic, gum tragacanth, glue, dextrin, sodium alginate, rubber cement, and karaya gum.

[NSB]

that YouTube video had nothing to do with primers. Waste of time to even watch it. It shows a plane crashing and blowing up.

[charlie b]

No, it had nothing to do with the primer issue, but, if you watch the whole thing (the airplane was a lead in) it has a good view of the results of a large scale detonation. Not as big as a 1000 or 2000lb bomb, but, still pretty destructive.

[Land Owner]

that YouTube video had nothing to do with primers. Waste of time to even watch it. It shows a plane crashing and blowing up.

Not the video I posted. Did you view past the lead ins? I posted the Utah Rocket Propellant Plant explosion and the other is the SAAMI firefighter's testing, which has a LOT to do with primers.

[NSB]

Not the video I posted. Did you view past the lead ins? I posted the Utah Rocket Propellant Plant explosion and the other is the SAAMI firefighter's testing, which has a LOT to do with primers.
You posted it, I just clicked on your link. I’m not about to check out every video on YouTube to find your post. YouTube isn’t very reliable anyway. Their motto is “keep trying and sooner or later it might happen”.

[charlie b]

The link worked just fine. Just have to watch the whole thing.

[Soundguy]

Mythbusters used a dead short in an old truck testing a story that two 'good 'ol boys' used a .22 as a fuse. The brass went flying and did minor damage to Buster.

I can personally attest that a popped 22lr case can minorly injure you if touched off. many decades ago...I was carrying a wood splitting wedge and dropped it knocking a plastic butter tub of odds n ends over and in the process.. that wedge fell on a stray 22lr that was in that butter tub.. the rim end of the 22lr came off and hit me on the inside of the left knee. I was wearing shorts... there was no pain.. and just a single line of blood. the rim was able to be removed with a pair of tweezers. it was fully in under the skin.. but you could feel it under the skin.. cleaned it up.. slapped a bandaid on it.. never caused me any problems that I know. I have since torn cartilage in that knee about 18 ys ago.. so it's had pictures taken and all and no other pieces were in there..

Startling.. but not lethal... but was able to get under the skin at near point blank range... sound was deafening...

[NSB]

Back about twenty years ago a couple of friends and myself were shooting as a team in three gun Team Challenge matches. We had our own range and we shot outside all winter getting ready for the national shoot in Florida. We live in WNY and it get pretty cold and snowy here. We kept a burn barrel going next to the firing line and once in a while we’d throw all the dud .22lr rimfires in the barrel. They all eventually “popped” but we never had one leave the barrel in the process. I think it was one of the dumber things we did back then, but no one ever got hurt. I guess we were “young and dumb”. Now days we’re just “old and senile”. I think they’re both the same thing. It’s not a good idea to do it even if you don’t think it will do anything. Murphy’s law….

[Shiloh]

Not a lot of info. FOX has a story.
Shiloh

[Patrick L]

So sad, I feel for the man's family.

We take these things so for granted.

[wyowillys46]

Get past the ads and lead-ins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c

Above is SAAMI testing of 100's of thousands of rounds of ammunition (shooting, burning) for the purpose of exposing myths in firefighting.

Below is the devastating explosion of a solid rocket fuel manufacturing plant in Utah (ammonium perchlorate is NOT used in ammunition primers), and one of the largest explosions ever caught on camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KuGizBjDXo


Pepcon was in Henderson, NV.