Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) investigators found dozens of safety violations at a munitions company where an explosion in October 2025 killed 16 people.

The company that handles explosives for the U.S. military is facing a fine of over $3 million, which is the largest fine in TOSHA history. The Oct. 10 explosion destroyed Building 602 at Accurate Energetic Systems’ facility in McEwen, Tennessee, killing all 16 employees inside. According to investigators, employees in that building were working a supply chain that handled “melt cast explosives.”

A 122-page inspection details more than 100 safety violations, with at least 44 described as “willful-serious," according to CBS News. 

Among the violations, TOSHA officials said they found evidence that Accurate Energetic Systems had not taken adequate precautions to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors being handled at the facility. The agency said the company also failed to maintain required safety information for its hazardous equipment and demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety.

“AES demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety by failing to limit personnel present, duration of employee exposure, and amount of explosive material present during operations in Building 602 that exposed employees to known explosion, fire, and blast hazards,” the investigators said in the report. “AES increased limits including the net explosive weight, personnel, and transient limits for Building 602 without documented basis demonstrating intentional disregard for industry standards.”

Statement from AES

Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) sent ISHN a statement about the findings: "AES is carefully reviewing the compliance findings issued by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA). We believe that TOSHA’s findings do not represent the standard of safety we strive to achieve every day, nor our commitment to the wellbeing of our team members and their loved ones," said CEO Wendell Stinson.

"AES continues to investigate and assist government investigators following the tragedy of October 10. Those we lost embodied the very heart of our community. They were our friends and family, and we suffer from their loss. We miss them, love them, and will always cherish our memories of them.

 As we closely assess these compliance findings alongside ongoing investigations, including our own, into what caused the explosion, our top priority will remain our employees, their families, and our neighbors. We will continue providing long-term care and resources through the AES Families Support Fund as well as Helping Hands of Hickman County, Centerstone, and through the support of thousands of our friends, neighbors, parishioners and partners."