Goex Explosion?

[martinibelgian]

This was recently posted on another forum: https://www.shreveportbossieradvocate.c ... 133bd.html

[patchbox]

Seems to be a perpetual problem at that plant location no matter who’s running it. We’ll see what the their next decision will be. Hoping it doesn’t spell the death knell for Estes Energetics production of sporting black powder. So probably more business for Swiss.

[patchbox]

So is the Louisiana plant the same plant that was taken over by Estes? Or is it a separate plant?

[Kenny Wasserburger]

So is the Louisiana plant the same plant that was taken over by Estes? Or is it a separate plant?

Yes same plant. Last time a fire and then a corning mill blew up.

When you hire back the same folks that have blown it up 3 times last 15 or so years, and expect a different outcome? Probably the definition of insanity.

KW

[patchbox]

Thanks Kenny - confirmed my suspicions.

[desert deuce]

IIRC,There was a period of time when the Moosic, PA, site was closing down in preparation for the move to Minden, LA, the idea of moving the production plant personnel along with the physical plant to Minden, was in contention.
In that time frame 'Top Down Management' was popularized. I do not recall those details or the final outcome of the move but have seen the problems Top Down Management can bring. Wonderful theory and that is about it.

However, if they did not move (for whatever reason) the entire floor personnel and their first line management (at least temporarily) from Moosic to Minden one may not have to look any further for cause and effect. Or at least penny wise and dollar foolish brought by top down management.

Does the old adage of the organization rots from the top down, not the bottom up apply?

Then there is the political element. Is there something being manufactured for DOD, other than Black Powder, that is the actual cause of the explosions? Some of the reasons given for the explosions seem nebulous in relation to the magnitude of repetitive problems. 7,200 foot 'mushroom' cloud?

The final question, is something going on at the Minden plant that it was not designed for?

Their 2 + 2 is not equaling 4.

[JonnyV]

I’m not sure we need a secretive or conspiratorial reason for these problems when the application of mere negligence will suffice. The plant was moved because labor in Louisiana is far cheaper than it is in Pennsylvania. Thus, more money could be kept by the people at the top. This is the root cause of top-down management problems, as Zach has noted. When the people at the top siphon off every available dollar for themselves and dump all over the people who actually do the work these are the problems that result. Improperly trained (cheaply trained) crew plus greedy management equals giant safety risks.

[desert deuce]

The fly that keeps buzzing around the ointment is that Estes was a DOD conn tractor before acquiring GOEX. (no that is not a misspelling.) And still is

of EXPLOSIVE material anyone? Would be interested in perusing that conn tract. An no mention of Minden wanting them gone?

Should we categorize this as we don't know what we don't know?

[JonnyV]

Under-trained, and under-paid, and working with several different types of explosives maybe?

[Kenny Wasserburger]

Remember in 2021 the plant was still owned by Hogden. They sold it to Estes.

So it’s a new management team.

KW

[desert deuce]

Yes, I see all that. Yet, even after eventful explosions they keep doing whatever it is they are doing to blow things up?

At what point do we stop calling these accidents and start admitting that something else is operational?

[Shadow 4]

"Recent history of Camp Minden
Unsafe, illegal storage practices at the facility on Camp Minden Explo Systems rented from the Louisiana National Guard resulted in a massive explosion in 2012 that shook northwest Louisiana, shattered windows for miles and prompted the evacuation of the nearby town of Doyline."

Well, if one reads the article, Deuce doesn't seems too far off

Simple words, used together makes one go, hmmmmmmmm

Chemicals
munitions.
illegal

More going on there than black powder.

[desert deuce]

The facts confuse any simple explanation. So what blew up?

[EOQUIN]

So is the Louisiana plant the same plant that was taken over by Estes? Or is it a separate plant?

Yes same plant. Last time a fire and then a corning mill blew up.

When you hire back the same folks that have blown it up 3 times last 15 or so years, and expect a different outcome? Probably the definition of insanity.

KW

This plant is actually in a rural area miles outside of Minden. The skilled workforce in this area are employed in the Haynesville Shale drilling for natural gas making top wages. If it is cheap labor being used to boost the upper management pay, well most likely they are not administering drug test on the workers.

[EOQUIN]

I’m not sure we need a secretive or conspiratorial reason for these problems when the application of mere negligence will suffice. The plant was moved because labor in Louisiana is far cheaper than it is in Pennsylvania. Thus, more money could be kept by the people at the top. This is the root cause of top-down management problems, as Zach has noted. When the people at the top siphon off every available dollar for themselves and dump all over the people who actually do the work these are the problems that result. Improperly trained (cheaply trained) crew plus greedy management equals giant safety risks.

Bingo! We have a winner. Oil and Gas Exploration have all the skilled workers making top pay in this region. Uneducated and untrained workers is what is left over. Add in lack of drug testing by managment and this is what you get.