CSB to Investigate Fatal Explosion at Tennessee Explosives Manufacturer

A team from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is set to arrive in Tennessee this week at the site of the Oct. 10 explosion that killed 16 people and seriously injured several others. The explosion occurred in Humphreys County at Accurate Energetic Systems, a facility that manufactures explosives for defense and commercial markets. The site was previously under restricted access as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) worked to analyze the debris field from the blast and remove hazardous materials, including undetonated explosives, from the area. ATF estimates that 24,000 to 28,000 pounds of explosives detonated during the incident.

“The ATF has preliminarily concluded that the blast originated in an area of the facility where mixed explosive materials were heated in production kettles,” CSB’s news release explains. “According to the ATF, other explosive materials located on the same floor of the facility also exploded after the original blast.”

Now that ATF’s work is complete, Accurate Energetic Systems has regained control of the site and CSB investigators can begin on-site activities. The agency plans to conduct an initial assessment at Accurate Energetic Systems and meet with management, ATF, and other officials as part of its investigation.

More information can be found in CSB’s news release.