Union Pacific Under Scrutiny Following Nebraska Yard Explosion

Investigation focuses on perchloric acid loading practices as company pledges safety improvements.

The explosion at Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in Nebraska is under investigation, with focus on the decision to load perchloric acid in a shipping container with a wooden floor, despite the acid's known reactivity with organic material.
Despite the explosion, the method of loading the acid does not appear to violate any regulations, indicating such shipping methods could still be in use.
Union Pacific is said to be revising its emergency response plan following criticism that the railyard was not evacuated during the incident.
Federal inspectors have found hundreds of defects in the locomotives and railcars Union Pacific uses, with the rate of defects twice the national average.
Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena acknowledges the need for improvement and pledges investment in technology and personnel.