At least 10 injured, others trapped after possible Omaha plant explosion

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Maggie O'Brien

An industrial accident Monday morning at a south-central Omaha plant sent 10 people to area hospitals, at least two of them with critical injuries.

Additional plant workers remained trapped inside International Nutrition, 7706 I Plaza, just before noon. The exact number wasn't immediately available. But initial reports indicated 12 to 15 were injured or trapped.

Interim Fire Chief Bernard Kanger said later in the morning that 38 people were at work at the time of the accident. He said he couldn't specify how many remained inside, or if the accident had claimed any lives.

“It was a very dangerous situation and continues to be very dangerous,” he said.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20140120/NEWS/140129937/1685#at-least-10-injured-after-possible-omaha-plant-explosion

[Scuba]

1. Let me guess: The plant's owners escaped injury by being on Wall Street instead of in Omaha.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. These kinds of incidents are happening more often seems to me

or else the headlines travel further faster

The regulated are either the future regulators, or the former regulators

Then you have budget cuts decimating enforcement and inspections

Boehner and the GOP blame government for not enforcing regulations in the
West Virginia case, but the GOP gutted the abilities of the Federal
government to police industries with budget cuts

[Javaman]

3. I wish I could do a sub poll to a thread...

Let's make a few guess as to why this happened as per recent similar past events. It will be found out that...

1)hadn't had in an inspection in x amount of years

2)budget cut backs prevented inspections

3)a recent bill cut the inspection program

4)owner willfully ignored warnings

5)owner let insurance lapse

6)owner "forgot" to have alert system checked in the last 30+ years.

7) wild card. owner uses non sequitor to attack local dem or liberal leaning politician as reason it exploded.

8) owner whines to the press how he "tried" to have it inspected but was "blocked" by whatever bullshit he can make up.

9) add your own.

[murielm99]

5. Add:

Owner declares bankruptcy as soon as he suspects that he has any liability at all.

[LiberalEsto]

8. Communists in the grain

[Dopers_Greed]

11. Repug politicians declare that...

The job creator was taxed so highly that he wasn't able to create extra jobs to help prevent the accident.

[greyl]

13. "in 2012, the firm was fined $10,430 by OSHA to settle six "serious" violations "

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140120/NEWS/140129937/1685#at-least-10-injured-after-possible-omaha-plant-explosion

[Doctor_J]

18. hmmm...$1700 per serious violation. Surprised this didn't deter them....

[valerief]

19. Only one way to fix that. Buy enough Congress whores and get rid of OSHA. nt

[liberal N proud]

4. Is this a grain processing plant?

From the pictures it looks like grain bins or some sort of powder hoppers.

Dust would be my first suspicion.

[Lochloosa]

10. Animal Feed Processing Plant...so dust is a real possibility.

[jmowreader]

20. Yup...looks like a silo explosion

That shit used to happen a lot - two or three times a year - in the Northwest until they finally realized explosion-proof motors are cheaper than new silos.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Hope everyone is found and alive.

[AngryAmish]

7. Was PAyton Manning trying to tell us something?

[Arugula Latte]

9. The answer -- more deregulation! That's what Saint Ronnie would want!

[raven mad]

12. Welcome to AynRandia,

where of course all corporations watch out for their employee's safety.

[Blue Diadem]

14. Fatalities confirmed

No numbers given, complete search has to be done first.
Per your link which has been updated.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140120/NEWS/140129937/1685#at-least-10-injured-after-possible-omaha-plant-explosion

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Update: 2 confirmed dead

same link:

Update: Two people have been confirmed dead after an industrial accident at International Nutrition, according to the office of Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, who oversees the county coroner.

The names of the two victims have not been released.

[OKNancy]

15. There is no possibility of survivors left in the building

Breaking News ‏@BreakingNews 18m
Omaha Fire chief Bernard Kanger: There is no possibility of survivors left in the building -

[Doctor_J]

17. This is the result of too much burdensome regulation!!!11!ones11!

Best wishes to those on the ground, and I hope culpability can be assigned and dealt with aggressively.

[DeSwiss]

21. K&R

Unsure what led to accident

Firefighters aren't sure what led to the accident. Rescuers saw flames and smoke as they approached the plant. No hazardous chemicals were on the premises, Kanger said. Search efforts were complicated by the extent of the damage at the plant, he said. link

International Nutrition