A railcar being prepped for cleaning burst into flames when gas vapors were ignited by an electrical heater.  Several workers were injured including two that required weeks of skin graft surgery due to burns to their body.  The incident happened in December of 2014 at GBW Railcar Services LLC.

OSHA proposed fines of $46,900 after inspectors identified 11 serious safety violations.

A 30 year old worker who had been on the job only three months was prepping the car for cleaning when the explosion occurred causing second degree burns to his hands, face, neck, and torso.

Another worker who was 47 was working in the paint booth when a fireball form the explosion ignited the booth and he became engulfed in flames causing second degree burns to his face, neck, hands, and torso as well.  He has been on the job more than three years.

Upon the investigation OSHA found the GBW exposed workers to fire and explosive hazards by not removing ignition sources from areas where vapors and flammable materials were.  They also did not use electrical equipment that was rated for hazards locations.  Flammable materials were failed to be stored properly and above ground fuel tanks were not protected from vehicle collisions.

GBW – a natioanl company with more than 40 locations nationwide and 2,100 maintenance workers has 15 days to comply with the citations for appeal the decisions.