National COSH Calls for Accountability and Stronger Worker Protections After Deadly Explosion at Tennessee Plant

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) expressed deep sorrow and outrage following the catastrophic explosion on October 10 at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant in Bucksnort, Tennessee. The blast killed 16 workers and completely destroyed the facility.

“This horrific tragedy is a stark reminder of what happens when worker safety takes a back seat to production and profit,” said Jessica E. Martinez, executive director of National COSH. “Explosives manufacturing is inherently dangerous – yet every single one of these deaths was preventable if proper oversight, safety measures, and accountability were in place. No one should die for a paycheck.”

Authorities report that all 16 workers inside the building at the time of the explosion perished, leaving behind grieving families and coworkers – and depriving investigators of critical firsthand accounts of conditions leading up to the disaster. While the cause remains under investigation, the nature of the facility’s work and the scale of the destruction underscore the urgent need for robust safety enforcement.

“Without survivors, we’ve lost not only lives but also voices – the very people who could have told us what was happening inside that plant,” Martinez continued. “That silence demands a louder response from our government. OSHA and federal investigators must act swiftly, transparently, and independently to determine what went wrong and to hold those responsible accountable.”

The Accurate Energetic Systems facility, covering 1,300 acres in rural Tennessee, manufactures and stores explosives for military and industrial use. It employed over 100 workers, many from surrounding small communities. While the company offers wages above the regional average, the explosion highlights the limited options available to workers in economically vulnerable areas – and the dangers of placing profits above people.

“This is not an isolated event,” said Martinez. “Across the country, we see too many employers in high-risk industries cutting corners while regulators lack the staffing, funding, and authority to prevent disasters. Workers, especially in rural and marginalized communities, are treated as expendable. That must end.”

National COSH is urging federal and state officials to:

• Launch a fully independent investigation into the explosion;

• Increase funding and staffing for OSHA and other safety agencies to prevent future workplace tragedies;

• Strengthen whistleblower protections and ensure workers can report hazards without fear of retaliation;

• Guarantee public transparency and accountability for the causes of – and responsibility for – this deadly incident.

“Safety isn’t optional – it’s a right,” said Martinez. “We stand with the families, the workers, and the Bucksnort community in demanding the truth, accountability, and real changes so tragedies like this never happen again.”