You Have Rights as an Employee
Under federal law, railroads are supposed to follow safety regulations to ensure the health and safety of their employees. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) mandates that railroads maintain certain safety standards. Despite these regulations, the railroad industry remains extremely dangerous.
The Federal Rail Safety Act (FRSA) provides protection for employees who are injured or who report an injury or safety violation. If you need assistance protecting your rights under the FRSA, please call our Federal Rail Safety Act attorneys in Alabama at . Your consultation is free. Burge & Burge, PC, represents railroad employees throughout the southeast United States.
FRSA Provisions
Railroads are not allowed to retaliate against an employee who reports their own or a coworker's injury. The railroad must not interfere with, delay or deny medical treatment to an employee injured on the job. Additional protected activities include:
- Reporting a safety violation
- Refusing to work in unsafe conditions
- Reporting fraud, waste or abuse of transportation safety or security public funds
- Refusing to break railroad safety and security laws
- Not authorizing unsafe equipment or track for use
These and other protected activities are meant to encourage railroad and worker safety by preventing railroad employers from taking actions against employees. Railroads are not permitted to intimidate, threaten, lay off, fire, discipline or demote an employee who engages in a protected activity.
However, sometimes railroads break this law and retaliate against employees. If this has happened to you, our lawyers can protect your rights and your job. You must act quickly; the statute of limitations for reporting this treatment is very short.
We can help you file a claim against your employer in federal court to recover lost wages with interest, reinstatement of your job and benefits, and damages and fees. You may also seek punitive damages up to $250,000.
Our experience in federal court and with Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) claims is very valuable in FRSA cases. For a free consultation with a Birmingham railroad injured worker attorney, please call or contact us online.
