Last modified: 6/3/2014 1:22:18 PM
PETERBOROUGH — The explosion on Feb. 10 at New Hampshire Ball Bearings’ Peterborough plant occurred when nitric acid was transferred into a drum containing an acidic waste mixture, according to a letter to company employees posted on the NHBB website.
In the letter, company President and Chief Executive Office Gary Yomantas wrote, “Since the evening of Feb. 10, we have been working with the Fire Marshal’s Office, OSHA, and independent experts to determine the cause of the blast. We have determined that a chemical reaction occurred when nitric acid from a non-production process was transferred to a 55 gallon drum containing an acidic waste mixture. The acids in question are commonly used in industry for surface treatment and testing of metals.”