Space tourism firm fined over deaths

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-rutan19jan19,1,1753575.story?coll=la-headlines-health

Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites must pay $25,870 after three workers died at its Mojave test facility. Criminal or civil charges could still be filed.

By John Johnson Jr., Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 19, 2008

Scaled Composites, the fledgling space tourism company founded by rocket pioneer Burt Rutan, was fined $25,870 on Friday as a result of an accident last July that killed three workers at the firm's Mojave, Calif., testing facility.

The fine covered five violations of workplace safety codes, including a failure to maintain a safe working environment and to properly train workers handling hazardous materials, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

The three workers -- Eric Dean Blackwell, 38; Charles Glen May, 45; and Todd Ivens, 33 -- were killed in an explosion at a remote testing site at the Mojave Air and Space Port on July 26. Three other employees were injured in the blast, which occurred when a tank of nitrous oxide ignited during a test of the spacecraft's propellant system.

The company issued a statement Friday, saying: "Scaled Composites regrets that this accident occurred, and we have expressed our condolences to the victims and their families and provided support during this difficult time."

"We cooperated fully with Cal/OSHA during the investigation, and we continue to work with the agency so that the enhanced procedures already implemented promote the safest workplace conditions possible."


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