A company and its owner have agreed not to employ people to work with explosives to settle a $1.2 million OSHA fine in connection with an explosion that killed two workers.

Black Mag and the company’s owner, Craig Sanborn have surrendered the company’s explosives manufacturing license and will permanently refrain from employing workers in any explosives-related business.

On May 14, 2010, an explosion at the company’s Colebrook, NH, facility killed two employees while they were manufacturing a gunpowder substitute.

OSHA issued 54 citations (4 egregious, 12 willful, 36 serious, 2 other-than-serious) with total penalties of $1,232,500.

The four egregious citations were for failure to train each of the four workers involved in manufacture of the gun powder substitute.

Black Mag has certified that it has terminated all production, which occurred when the explosion destroyed the facility and put it out of business.

As part of the settlement, the company will enter an enforcement order with a federal court. Violation of such an order could lead to charges of contempt of court in which potential penalties could include prison time.

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Tags: Black mag, egregious violation, explosion, killed two workers, surrendered license