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A Petroleum Recovery and Remediation Management worker burned and died and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health conducted an extensive review of the March incident.

The 11 News I-Team obtained a copy of the MOSH investigation report. It lists citations issued to the company for 16 violations.

The team also learned inspectors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised concerns about the plant during a 2020 inspection.

Neighbors in Curtis Bay described the impact of an explosion and fire on March 7 of this year, at Petroleum Recovery and Remediation Management INC. on Curtis Avenue.

A PMI employee, vacuum truck operator Ernest Cooper, died. He was engulfed in flames.

According to the MOSH investigation, seven employees were on the job in various locations at the facility the morning of the fire.

The investigation revealed on a normal day, three people work together to unload vacuum trucks, but on the day of the incident, Cooper was the only employee unloading his truck.

In the report it states, "Wastewater Settlement Tank 2 began to overflow and spray like a fountain."

The report claims: "Mr. Cooper ran into a diking system where the trash pump was located and became soaked in the liquid spraying from the tank. Somewhere between, Mr. Cooper turning the pump off and walking back to the vacuum truck a fire erupted."

Employees at the scene unsuccessfully tried to save their coworker. The fire became too big and too hot -- it spread to other plastic above ground storage tanks and two buildings.

Employees told investigators they heard a hissing sound prior to the fire and that the pump would backfire if shut off improperly or too quickly.

"It is really, really detrimental and traumatic not only to the individuals but the community at large," Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, D-District 10.

It is incidents like this that Curtis Bay residents and Porter said increase concerns about safety and health hazards for workers and families in the Curtis Bay area.

"The city is resilient, but we have undergone intense trauma. It is another factor and south Baltimore is where we've had a traumatic experience," Porter said.

MOSH issued citations to petroleum recovery and remediation management for 16 violations -- 12 of them considered serious.

They include four above ground storage tanks constructed from a combustible material instead of steel. A gas-powered water pump stored and operated in a diking system which created sources of ignition.

Other findings: Employees pumped flammable liquids into a metal strainer box and plastic holding tanks -- neither had proper hazard warnings. Employees were not provided information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.

The facility in operation for approximately 11 years, according to a MOSH inspection report treated 10,000 to 15,000 gallons per day of petroleum-contaminated water.

In response, PMI sent MOSH a letter dated June 10.

It reads in part: "As required we have corrected the hazardous conditions or practices identified in our workplace." It also indicates, "The wastewater treatment facility has been destroyed and no longer operable."

PMI also states if the treatment facility is restored, the processing tanks will be made of steel and processing pumps and equipment will be designed to control or eliminate any sources of ignition where the presence of vapors may be possible.

WBAL-TV 11 News contacted PMI for comment and are still waiting for a response.

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