Hornady Primer Facility Explosion Claims The Life Of One Worker

by
posted on October 19, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Friday 13Th

On Friday, Oct. 13, an explosion at the chemical compounding building at a Hornady Manufacturing facility west of Grand Island, Neb., claimed the life of one worker. A nearby hospital treated two others for non-life-threatening injuries—concussion symptoms and smoke and fume inhalation.

A statement issued by Steve and Jason Hornady—president and vice-president of the company, respectively—said, “We 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 primer facility and did not impact any of the manufacturing facilities. We appreciate the outreach we have received while we grieve the loss of one of our own.”

Fire departments from four communities responded to the explosion. On Monday, Oct. 16, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency announced the incident was an accident that occurred while mixing chemicals.

Hornady’s not the first to suffer a primer-related tragedy. In 2017, an explosion at the U.S. military’s Lake City ammunition plant claimed another life. Fatal incidents also occurred there in 1981, 1990, 1991 and 2011. A 2015 explosion at a Sellier & Bellot plant in the Czech Republic killed three workers, and earlier this year, a truck carrying primers out of an Illinois factory took the life of its driver.

Statistics compiled by the U.S. government indicate ammunition operations stateside are safer than most other combustible-material industries. Despite that fact, manufacturers go out of their way to establish primer mixing operations in areas that minimize public exposure.

Hornady’s site, for example, is located on the old Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, originally built for munitions production during World War II. It sat largely idled outside Grand Island after the Vietnam War ended. Then, in 2010, Hornady purchased 320 acres of the facility and began construction of a new 150,000-sq.-ft. facility. Production began there—along with some shipping operations—soon after construction was complete.

The family-owned business was founded in 1949 and is a recognized community leader in Grand Island, the state of Nebraska and beyond. Its donations to aid cancer research and victims of the illness in the region, for example, now comes to more than $1 million.

Latest

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.