OSHA fine for explosion
OSHA fined a personal‑care manufacturer $275,000 after a nitrocellulose explosion, underlining that lapses with hazardous materials carry major penalties and operational fallout. The case is being cited as a cautionary example for strict adherence to safety protocols. (powderbulksolids.com)
OSHA’s March 18, 2026 news release names SV Labs Prescott Corp. as the cited employer at its Prescott, Wisconsin production site and identifies the company as California‑headquartered. (osha.gov) The agency’s account says the incident involved a 55‑gallon fiber drum at the plant and that the initial event sparked a secondary fire that burned flammable liquids stored on‑site. (osha.gov) OSHA investigators concluded the employer lacked a comprehensive new‑hire safety and health program and failed to provide newly hired employees with chemical‑hazard and respiratory‑protection training, respirator fit testing, and required medical evaluations. (osha.gov) OSHA issued two repeat violations (respiratory protection and hazard communication), 10 serious violations addressing flammable liquids, fire‑extinguisher training and inspections, forklift training and electrical hazards, and six other‑than‑serious citations for recordkeeping and unsafe material handling. (osha.gov) The agency proposed total penalties of $275,694 and reports SV Labs Prescott Corp. has formally contested the citations before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. (osha.gov) The Prescott facility was the subject of an FDA inspection earlier in 2025 and received a warning letter dated December 9, 2025, documenting prior regulatory scrutiny of the same site. (fda.gov)
