California Authority Cites Five Violations

Mojave, CA-based aerospace company Scaled Composites was fined $25,870 last week by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, following its investigation into a fatal July 2007 accident that claimed the lives of three Scaled employees.

The Los Angeles Times reports the fine applies to five violations of workplace safety codes. The largest citation, for $18,000, charged Scaled with failure to correct unsafe conditions and/or practices in handling nitrous oxide.

As ANN reported, the July 26 accident occurred during what was described as a routine cold-test-fire of the nitrous oxide propellant system to be used on the company's upcoming commercial spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo. Investigators determined a nitrous oxide tank ignited during the test, resulting in the deaths of Scaled employees Eric Dean Blackwell, Charles Glen May, and Todd Ivens, 33. Three other employees were injured in the blast.

Other violations cited by Cal/OSHA included failure to maintain a safe working environment, and failure to properly train workers in the handling of hazardous materials. Two of the violations were deemed serious, meaning they carried a substantial risk of death or injury.

Cal/OSHA Kate McGuire said Scaled has since corrected all areas where violations occurred, adding her office does not determine whether a company is criminally negligent.

In a statement to the press following the ruling, Scaled reiterated its sorrow in the loss of three workers at the tight-knit company.

"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," the company said. "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."

Founded by maverick aerospace engineer Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites is best-known for its Ansari X Prize-winning SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 became the first privately-launched spacecraft to reach suborbital space. The company is now working on the significantly-larger SpaceShipTwo, and its associated White Knight Two launch vehicle.

Virgin Galactic, which plans to operate SpaceShipTwo on commercial spaceflights in the coming years, unveiled mockups of both vehicles earlier this week.

FMI: www.scaled.com