BNSF Railroad Worker Injured by Acid Vapors

February 25th, 2011 |

AMARILLO, TX – A railroad employee who worked for BNSF was injured on Tuesday, February 22, when a railroad tank released sulfuric acid. The accident occurred at 1900 S. Johnson St. and the vapors escaped the tank about 9:35 a.m., Fire Capt. Wes Hall said.

The worker was unidentified, but four Amarillo firefighters responded to the incident and arrived on the scene to treat the injured worker.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway spokesman Joe Faust said the victim appeared uninjured initially, but began to experience symptoms that concerned supervisors.

Faust said the vapors appeared to escape because the tank was overfilled. The tank was in the railroad’s yard, Faust said.

Firefighters did not have to decontaminate the victim, Hall said. An ambulance transported the victim to the hospital. Hall said a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway hazardous materials team was on the scene.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Source: Amarillo.com

Published by FELA lawyer Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP