After getting getting hurt on the job at a railroad, it may be tough to know if your problem came about through lax safety measures or poor supervision on the part of your employer.
FELA, or the Federal Employers Liability Act, ensures that employees injured on the job can receive protection.
Common guidelines
According to FindLaw, in order to prove your claim under this act, you must show that your place of work was guilty of negligence. This means that you got an injury due to preventable issues, such as an unsafe environment or faulty equipment. FELA guidelines clearly detail safety measures each workplace must follow, including not making unreasonable demands from their workers.
Work safety issues
Working in unsafe weather conditions or in poor lighting are failures on the part of your employer to provide a safe workplace. Your boss may be breaking FEMA guidelines if he or she did not warn you of a possible hazard during a shift. This act prohibits unreasonable amounts of timed work, since quotas can lead to rushing and potential injuries.
Health complications from a train crash, injuries from falling railroad construction items, pain from electrocution, or exposure to unsafe toxic chemicals can all stem from negligence in the workplace. Brain trauma or neck and back problems resulting from a fall are also common in railroad workplaces. Inadequate training or preparation on the part of management can contribute, which is also prohibited under FELA.
Liability
Once you suspect your employer is at fault, you may bring a negligence claim forward. Many times, these claims are easier to prove or establish than other workplace injury cases. Taking careful note of what your work environment was like can help you provide details to prove it was unsafe.