In explaining its shutdown of the Tooele Army Depot chemical weapons incinerator for a "Severity Level One" violation, the Army said the situation "provided an immediate risk to workers." That sort of violation is serious, but a further evaluation provided even more cause for concern.
The Army's report also stated, "Additionally, it undermines the ability to assure and demonstrate confidence in the quality of the work." That larger statement should prompt close scrutiny of future operations at the incinerator.The potential for danger to workers at the plant as well as the small possibility of risk to residents from a leak mean there is no room for complacency where supervision is concerned.
The incinerator operator, EG&G Defense Materials Inc., has shut the incinerator down several times to correct relatively minor problems since it started operating last year. That kind of self-policing must continue, and it must improve, in light of the Army's finding of a serious violation.
The Army issued a stop-work order that can only be lifted if EG&G can give assurances that the company has improved management to prevent the problems that led to the violations.
Stopping operation of the incinerator is costly and delays getting rid of the stockpile of chemical weapons stored at the depot. The sooner the weapons are disposed of, the better for Utahns.
The burning of chemical weapons is a controversial operation at best. The contractor must realize that its workers are being closely watched and monitored. In such potentially hazardous work, there is little room for error.