Letterkenny explosion: Fifth incident with injuries in two years at depot
An explosion was reported this at around 7 a.m. Thursday morning at Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, Pa. Injuries were reported at Building 350 and air medical responded to tthe scene. (Photo: Markell DeLoatch, Public Opinion)
(Undated) — Thursday’s fire and explosion appear to be the most serious incident at Letterkenny Army Depot in recent years.
In 2012, Letterkenny’s industrial operations were awarded a coveted OSHA safety award. Letterkenny had maintained injury and illness rates below the National Bureau of Labor Statistics averages to earn the Voluntary Protection Program Star Certification. The depot’s accident rate had dropped 34 percent between 2007 and 2012.
But since then, OSHA has reported four work-related severe-injuries, from Jan. 1, 2015, to Sept. 30, 2017:
- Bowhead Support Group, Letterkenny Army Depot, Superior Avenue, Building 57, Chambersburg. May 2, 2016. An employee was putting a trailer onto a hitch and caught a finger between the hitch and trailer resulting in the amputation of the fingertip.
- Premier Technology Inc., Letterkenny Army Depot, 1 Overcash Ave., Chambersburg. May 25, 2016. An employee was using a pry bar to align a flange when the bar slipped, causing him to fall backward and fracture his left ankle. He was hospitalized for surgery.
- Letterkenny Army Depot, Building 370, Chambersburg. Nov. 7, 2016. An employee was stowing a jib crane when his right ring finger was caught and partially amputated between the crane’s frame and the bump stop. The injury required surgery.
- Bowhead Integrated Support Services, Letterkenny Army Depot, Building 57 at 1350 Superior Ave., Chambersburg. June 23, 2017. An employee was using a bending machine to roll tubing into a circle when the feeder caught his glove and right hand and amputated his right index finger.
Col. Stephen Ledbetter provides an update on the incident that injured four workers, including three who were airlifted to a Baltimore hospital. Chambersburg Public Opinion
This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Chambersburg Public Opinion.
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
