Explosion at Glock Facility in Smyrna, GA

[Nero Steptoe]

Any of you geniuses giggling about KB's want to explain how one guy was burned over 80% of his body? Sounds like a flash fire, more than an explosion. Hope those guys get better and don't suffer too much.

 

[dport]

Considering the responses to three people being injured, one critically, I guess the ideal of THEHIGHROAD is more theory than practice.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good point dport. Bad kharma to laugh at the misfortune of others.

 

[Ed Brunner]

I'm not laughing

I agree that it might be a flash "explosion" from unburned powder. Over the years they probably had a lot of it and didn't clean up often enough.

 

[OneShot]

I guess the unburnt powder theory would explain why my local indoor range floor is always wet from being hosed down at the beginning of every day.

I do not find three people being hurt funny at all, but you would think that a gun making company would know enough to keep their range clean and up to snuff.

Like some have stated, I wonder if we will ever know the truth.--Oneshot

 

[JohnKSa]

This is the first time I realized that some people are so rabid about their preference in guns that they would actually be happy if people with differing opinions were severely injured.

 

[KT9]

I hope the explanation ends up being good. I would hate to see headlines in the paper or on tv of, "One of the biggest handgun makers negligent at own plant." or somesuch. Those who do not like guns could certainly use this against those of us who do.

 

[Jerrywahid]

These people work very hard every day just like every one else. I think all of the jokes are in very poor taste. I really didn't expect to see this. Especially from some of the Mods.

 

[Razor]

I think all of the jokes are in very poor taste. I really didn't expect to see this. Especially from some of the Mods.

Same here.

 

[JShirley]

Well, I certainly understand how you could feel that way, and perhaps they are. I know none of the mods here wish ill toward any unoffending party, and I don't think they were laughing about anyone getting hurt.

John

 

[Greybeard]

The "flash fire" speculation could be on the mark.

I got in too big of a hurry once last year to put on the mask and properly deal with a small pile of "downrange sweepings" about the size of a pie plate. It consisted of a mixture of spent brass, unburned gunpowder and paper target punchouts. It was about 5 yards down range next to a wall.

One of our regular members was shooting some reloads that evidently put a spark in the pile. Hello 6'+ fire geyser! The walls and ceilings are lined with metal, so after clean-up, the only visible damage was a small area of blackened floor. The shooter apologized repeatedly, but I insisted, that no, I should not have left that little pile on the floor downrange in the first place.

Prayers for those affected in Georgia.

 

[Pendragon]

Glock makes a .380 pistol that is not available in the US because it does not have enough "points" to be considered a "sporting arm".

My understanding is that .380 is popular is a lot of places that limit civilian use of military and police calibers or have limits on how powerful a handgun you can own.

 

[TheeBadOne]

My understanding is that .380 is popular is a lot of places that limit civilian use of military and police calibers or have limits on how powerful a handgun you can own.

Exactly, and it's the same reason Glock is releasing their own .45 GAP round.

 

[seeker_two]

Prayers for those injured & their families...

 

[c_yeager]

Some people deal with serious matters through humor. And sometimes people find humor in situations that are dire and tragic to others. THis is human nature. And if you have EVER laughed at anything like say this www.darwinawards.com then your standing in a glass house. Otherwise feel free to cast stones. But i have found humor in such things (although NOT in this case) so i will remain silent on issue.

 

[JimC]

Especially from some of the Mods.

Unfortunately, being a Moderator doesn't mean you always "write" in good taste or use the utmost in common sense.

 

[mete]

Unburned powder can be a hazard. There is another hazard for handloaders, in time dust from primers can accumulate in the press and may ignite. Occasionally thoroughly clean your press.

 

[Lexter]

The injured folks were taken to Grady Memorial? Good Hospital but darned scary place!

I hope they all recover soon. Love Glock or hate 'em, gotta pull for the people!


Lexter

 

[444]

"I'm still a little confused why someone would want to buy a 17 shot .380 full size pistol "

I recently was talking to a guy that lives in Mexico City who owns and carrys one of these. I asked him about it and I think they have certain calibers that are legal to own, or possibly this is the largest caliber allowed.

I was once at an indoor range when the dust on the floor was ignited by gunfire. It wasn't all that spectacular or anything but it burnt for several minutes.

 

[Greybeard]

Texas DPS has a new range facility near Florence that I'll get to see/use during instructor recertification next month. I highly suspect it may include a design change from the old range adjacent to headquarters. One of the old RSO's primary rules (and MAJOR pet peeve) was "Do NOT walk on the gravel!" (which is just in front of the firing line). Risk of spark ignighting accumulation of unburned powder.

From what i've observed in cleaning up on concrete floor in our little range, I can only imagine how much gunpowder might be in or under gravel.

Our downrange floor needs attention most often after shooting with shorter barrels ...

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Manufacturing environments can be hazardous to say the least. Introduce explosives or flammables and the risks for accidents are greatly increased. I hope all involved or injured a speedy recovery.

P.S. I hope the safety guy gets a good butt chewin'

 

[Preacherman]

Looks like it was unburned powder after all... From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/0703/15explosion.html), July 15:

Workplace blast burns three seriously
Incident occurs at gun maker's test-firing range

By DON PLUMMER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three employees were burned seriously Monday morning in an explosion at a Smyrna gun manufacturer.

The blast, inside the test-firing range at the headquarters of Glock Inc. at 6000 Highlands Parkway, resulted in "very serious" life-threatening injuries to the hands, face and arms of a male employee, said Smyrna Police Chief Larry Williams. Two other employees, a male and a female, sustained "serious but not life-threatening" injuries, Williams said.

"It doesn't appear that the explosion was from a weapon," he said. "At this time, it appears the explosion was residue from spent ammunition." The cause of the blast will be investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Williams said.

The injured employees were taken to the burn unit at Grady Memorial Hospital, the most seriously injured man by helicopter. Authorities would not release their identities.

Two remained hospitalized today, while the third was treated and released, said Grady spokeswoman Frankie Smith.

The most seriously injured man was in critical condition today, and the woman was in stable condition, Smith said.

"There was a blast-fire type of explosion that burned the employees," Williams said. However, sprinklers were activated by the blast and there was no fire when firefighters arrived, Williams said. "If there was any fire it was controlled by the automatic suppression equipment."

Damage was confined to a room where employees test guns manufactured at the company, Williams said.

Glock issued a statement Monday through emergency officials saying the company would have no comment until today.

Calls to Glock on Monday afternoon were answered by a recording saying the company's offices were closed. Calls to OSHA were not immediately returned.

Glock was founded in 1963 In Austria. Its U.S. and Canadian headquarters in Smyrna opened in 1985. Glock pistols are used by 65 percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies, according to the company's Web site.

The company manufacturers 37 types of pistols as well as field knives, shovels and shooting apparel.

 

[David Park]

The company manufacturers 37 types of pistols...

(closer than the last article, but still no cigar)

 

[Bottom Gun]

Sometimes the most unexpected things happen.

We had a large explosion here last week which was caused by helium over-pressurization. Several people were injured here also but they are all recovering.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I'm ashamed of the people who found humor in this accident.

Kentucky Rifle