Worker dies in Weld blast
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published May 16, 2008 at 1:29 p.m.
Updated May 16, 2008 at 1:29 p.m.
An employee has died after an explosion and fire at Boulder Scientific Co., a chemical manufacturing plant, in Mead.
Weld County Undersheriff Margie Martinez says 37-year-old Leslie Robertson of Loveland was burned in the incident this morning and was taken by air ambulance to University of Colorado Hospital.
Deputy Weld County Coroner Chris Robillard says Robertson has died from his injuries.
Three other people were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
"We got the call at 6:59 this morning," Mountain View Fire deputy chief Steve Pischke said. The fire was put out a short time later.
St. Vrain Valley School District closed its two schools in Mead as a precaution.
Boulder Scientific makes chemicals, specializing in advanced organometallic catalysts, ligands and co-catalysts.It was founded in 1972 and now employs 100 professionals, according to its Web site.
The company remained closed Friday.
Phone calls to company founder John M. Birmingham went unanswered.
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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May 16, 2008
12:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
MarineGrunt writes:
Used to work at this place.... SCARY AS HELL!! They make the base material in the Space Shuttles fuel (and the base for two AIDS drugs) and they run the place on a shoestring budget. With all the homes in the area, they got DAMN lucky! Plus, the FD is right across the street.
Hope the guy hurt isn't too bad off and makes a quick recovery.
May 16, 2008
1:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
MarineGrunt writes:
THIS MANS BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS, John!!!!
This is your fault! I hope they take your last penny and you rot in a jail cell for years!
May 16, 2008
2:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Jamie writes:
This is SO SAD... And scary. One of my best friends works there, and luckily took today off. Les' blood is on your hands John... You should have run bsc like your father did. STOP cutting corners to put more money in your deep pockets so that this does not happen to ANY MORE of your overworked, underpaid, unappreciated employees that risk their lives every day to make your pockets deeper. Try supplying them with everything that they need to run that company safely, take them off the 12 hours shifts and give them adequate breaks. So sad... My thoughts are with Les' family. I am so sorry that this happened. It could have been avoided.
May 16, 2008
4:17 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
Well, you posters should do some whistleblowing if you somehow know that safety is recklessly being compromised there. Don't just gripe about it on an Internet forum, do something.
May 16, 2008
6:01 p.m.
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terpthisbaby writes:
My heart goes out to the Robertson family. He leaves behind a wife and three kids. How do you find out what the investigation uncovers?
May 16, 2008
8:27 p.m.
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anonymous writes:
Just to clarify... John Birmingham was the founder of BSC however has not had his hand in the company much for a few years. His son, Scott, has been the one calling the shots. A lot of things have changed around there in the last few years. It seems that Scott has deep pockets and really short arms. He cares way too much about making a buck for himself and his employees are being made to make the most sacrifice. I feel this would have to be more on Scott's shoulders than John's but I only know John from what I have heard about him. This is the second Major incident in 14 months at this facility. Not okay. It was only by luck that no one was killed last year. In fact, I heard that Les Robertson made outstanding efforts during that incident to make sure everyone got out of that one alive. Les was a great man. A good, loving father with a great sense of humor. He was a hero to some. He will be missed dearly. Our prayers and thoughts go out to him and his family. He had a daughter and 2 sons. May God watch over them all.
May 18, 2008
4:34 p.m.
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Golloss writes:
I also worked at this company a few years ago and was involved in a vat ignition accident which burned my arm and neck and some of my hair. I went home that night and thought about it, and it seemed to me that a lot of the guys that were there for more than seven or ten years or so had some serious health problems. That coupled with the fact that the accident I was involved in was not the fault of any one person but a procedural problem made me decide to quit. I would like people to know that the middle management at this company are a great group of people and do care greatly about their employees. I am sure that they are all very upset about losing Les. The problem at BSC seems to me to be one of lack of re-investment into the operational side of the company. When I would walk in there to start work it looked like it was something out of the sixties. We all knew that the owners were making a large amount of money from the operation but none of it seemed to come back into the facility. Out-dated and worn equipment would result in small levels of exposure almost everyday. It didn't seem like a single month would go by that we didn't have to evacuate the plant for some kind of containment issue. I always felt like if the people of the town of Mead had any idea of the potential for real danger for their town from this plant they would have demanded it closed! At the very least I hope that OSHA comes in and mandates changes long overdue to modernize this facility or shut it down before any other employees are hurt, now or in the long-term.
May 18, 2008
11:07 p.m.
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Mother_In_Mead writes:
I cannot thank those who posted comments enough. Thank you to those employed past & present for having the courage to write what you did. I have many children - we live a very short distance from Boulder Scientific, which is NOT so lovingly dubbed the "perfume plant" by the local residents. I assure you that the comments & the information that was shared here & NOT by our town manager, BS management & etc... will NOT be forgotten. I have already shared this page & comments with several other residents in hopes that there will be strength in numbers to get some real answers & hopefully a resolution in our town. I would hate to see jobs lost - but, more than that I would hate to see more lives lost & families & children harmed, all in search of the mighty dollar. Such a travesty & tragedy. I pray that Mr. Robertson's survivors are treated with dignity & compensated fairly for the loss of their father, husband & son - as well as those injured in this accident.
May 23, 2008
3:30 a.m.
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RANDOMBLATHER writes:
I am so very sorry to hear Les has died. It makes my heart sink to think of his passing. This is a terrible, unfair loss for His family + friends. Also, I hope the best for the 3 people who were injured.
Now, on a tangent, I must say that the above knee jerk reactions regarding BSC are often irresponsible and misleading. The first 3 posts are prime examples of this. We all are having a tough time with this, but come on! This is such an awful thing to have happened, and it should bring about a serious investigation that should reveal the truth. I trust our readers are critical of imaginative guesses and tactics promoting fear. No good comes of presumption and hearsay. Not one of us in this forum knows what truly happened that terrible morning, do we? It is irresponsible to try and convince our readers and ourselves why this happened when we simply do not know it ourselves. I understand that many of us look for an explanation and responsibility. I think we all hope to find out soon, and that the results gain a better safety record for all. Who knows if it is a mechanical, human, or procedural issue.
I worked at BSC as well, and my experience was different. At that time, not once was the plant evacuated for anything other than training purposes. Equipment rarely failed, and chemical exposures were due to habits or mistakes by humans (not the equipment). Having said that, it is worth pointing out that the operators and mid management at BSC are careful, safe workers who take their jobs very seriously. Those who did not weren't around for long. I don't know enough to say much about the top brass. I do not, however, argue that there could be improvements in some equipment quality. I also agree with Golloss regarding procedure. It is one of the most effective ways to make things safe and (although BSC's procedures are really quite good) should be examined even further. Like all plants, BSC could always improve.
May 23, 2008
3:32 a.m.
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RANDOMBLATHER writes:
Also, I have heard a number of Mead residents act the victim. I just don't get it. If we live in a neighborhood near a chemical plant, it is our responsibility to know what goes on behind the security fence and accept it as the reality of our environment or, perhaps, live somewhere else. There are obvious risks inherent to living close to such a thing-- the smell included! Keep in mind a facility needs to comply with EPA, OSHA, fire, and other regulations, otherwise they are fined or shut down. BSC seems fine in most regards. There is great focus on safety training. The company spends a lot time and money complying with OSHA and EPA standards. The community is a major consideration in BSC's safety plan. Unfortunately, incidents and releases can happen. I haven't seen an industry or company yet that beats the odds 100%. If you find one, lemme know.
It is so easy this day and age to go to a company's website and find out what they do. Try it! It is beyond me why anyone would live near a site such as this and resign themselves to living in fear for lack of knowledge. The town is not in imminent danger just because these terrible events have occurred. We all need to get a grip on reality. I dunno, perhaps a representative of BSC would present to a town meeting the goings-on and answer ?'s. Help clear up this fear epidemic.
BTW, it is true that many plants don't have the FD across the street. That is a "bonus" safety feature BSC has going for it. Its a good thing.
BSC is a good, small company. A lot of pride and teamwork there--almost familial. Les was a great operator. I always looked forward to seeing him and sharing a laugh. I hope the 3 injured people recover fully . My thoughts to all of you!!
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