Company At Fault In Explosion That Killed Father Of 2 In Newburyport: Osha

After an investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that a Newburyport pharmaceutical company could have prevented the death of one of its employees if it had followed safety protocols. The federal agency suggested $300,000 in fines.

Jack O’Keefe (center) with the daughter, Jessica (right), and his sister, Gail.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy photo*

Josh Lanier

11/30/2023 4:43 p.m.

Jack O'Keefe, 62, of Methuen, was killed when a pressure vessel exploded at a Seqens plant in May, partially tearing the roof off of the building.

Photos from the explosion show pieces of large machines thrown hundreds of feet outside of the building.

OSHA found that the company and subsidiary PolyCarbon Industries Inc. lacked proper safety protocols and did not determine the combustibility of some of the materials in making the chemical Dekon 139, a news release said.

The federal agency cited the companies with 11 violations and proposed fines of $298,254.

"The requirements of OSHA's Process Safety Management standard are stringent and comprehensive because failure to comply fully can have a severe or catastrophic impact on employees that, in this case, cost a worker their life," said OSHA's Area Director Sarah Carle in Andover. "Employers must rigorously, completely and continuously scrutinize, update and maintain each element of the process properly to identify and minimize hazards and protect workers' safety and health."

O'Keefe left behind two adult children and many friends, his obituary said. A US Army veteran, O'Keefe grew up in Lawrence and loved classic rock and roll, Boston sports, and cookouts with friends.

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