(The Associated Press circulated the following story on February 17.)
COUNCIL BLUFFS — Union Pacific railroad said a chemical-based gas inside a fuel tank caused the explosion that killed a worker Tuesday at its machine shop in Council Bluffs.
John Bromley, a spokesman for the nation’s largest railroad operator, said the gas formed in the tank when the manufacturer failed to seal the chemical liner in the tank when it was made.
Pointing a finger at the manufacturer, he said the “curing” process to seal the tank was done improperly, allowing a chemical-based gas to form at the bottom of the tank.
Bromley said he did not know the identity of the manufacturing company, but said Omaha-based Union Pacific would work to ensure such an incident would never happen again.
Daniel Weinert, 46, of Omaha, was working with a metal grinder on the tank, preparing to install it onto a railcar when sparks from the grinder caused the tank to explode. He was killed and three other employees were injured.
“No one at the shop is at fault,” Bromley said. “It was a hidden hazard.”
Bromley said the finding closes a major part of the company’s investigation into the blast, which was so powerful it threw Weinert 30 feet across the room and damaged the side of a passanger car.
The Federal Railroad Administration assigned three inspectors to investigate the explosion. That probe could last up to six months, agency spokesman Warren Flatau said, and will determine whether Union Pacific failed to comply with regulations.
“The occurrence of an accident is not necessarily evidence there was a violation,” Flatau said.
The Heritage Fleet shop, which is used to repair and restore rail cars, is expected to stay closed until Feb. 22. All 21 railroad workers idled during the investigation will receive full pay until it reopens.
Three other employees who were injured were treated for their injuries at local hospitals and released. The company is not releasing their names, but Bromley said they are “doing better.”
James Ebert, 61, of Council Bluffs, is among the workers that survived the blast. He suffered ringing in his ears and some cuts from flying objects, his wife, Bernadette Ebert said.
“He’s sore, and he still has hearing problems,” she said. “He’s lucky to be here. He’s thankful to be here.”
Family and friends were holding a vigil service for Weinert at a Catholic Church in Omaha. His funeral was scheduled for Friday.