Rocket Plant Told to Improve Safety

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. — An accident-plagued government rocket contractor was allowed Thursday to keep its special operating permit but was told by Storey County commissioners to shut down until it makes major safety changes.

The County Commission ordered Hi-Shear Technology Corp. to halt operations until immediate safety concerns are taken care of. The panel gave the company until next March to upgrade the safety of operations at its Lockwood plant.

Hi-Shear, which holds Defense Department contracts to produce and test rockets and components, was issued a special use permit to operate in September, 1986, after moving its plant from Torrance, Calif.

The Nevada plant actually began its operations early this year.

The commission unanimously voted to compel the company to hire a safety manager, have an on-site supervisor at all times, institute a 24-hour security system and conduct a study to determine the “worst-case scenario” if a toxic cloud accident were to occur.

An April 29 explosion caused a fire at the plant when a man and woman were mixing a 60-pound batch of solid rocket propellant that suddenly flared into a 400-degree inferno that burned their hands and arms.

Since then, two other incidents, including another explosion, have occured. There were no injuries.