LISTEN: Explosives Maker Accused of Neglecting Safety to Meet Pentagon Contract Before Fatal Blast

An attorney preparing to file a federal lawsuit against a Tennessee explosives manufacturer over a deadly 2025 blast alleged this week that the company pushed its production beyond a safe level in an effort to fulfill a Pentagon contract.

Darren Richie, who represents the families of two of the 16 people killed in the October explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems, said during a Friday news conference that AES neglected safety hazards to increase production for the $120 million federal contract, the Tennessean reported. He indicated the families intend to file their lawsuit this month and will seek $150 million in damages.

The statement came about a week after Tennessee's OSHA (TOSHA) department concluded a six-month investigation into the explosion and cited AES with 100 violations totaling over $3.1 million in penalties. The cited hazards included explosive dust buildup on equipment and workers spraying flammable paint near hot equipment without proper safeguards. The agency said the penalty is the largest in its history.

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