The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that Norfolk Southern Railway violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act in firing injured workers.
One part of the investigation centered around the OSHA office in Columbia, SC and an accident occurring in Greenville, SC. Back in 2009, a worker in Greenville was hit by the company’s gang truck. The railroad fired the injured worker for improper performance of duties, while letting the other individuals involved in the incident continue work. OSHA found this to be disparate treatment, and thus, the wrongdoing on the part of Norfolk Southern.
For this incident, OSHA has ordered the railroad to pay punitive damages of $200,000 as well as compensatory damages of $110,852 and attorney’s fees of $14,325.
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