Transportation incidents are among the top causes of catastrophic injuries and premature mortality in the United States. A significant percentage of transportation incidents involve passenger vehicles on public roads.
However, railway incidents occur more frequently than people expect. Derailments involving cargo trains occur multiple times a day. A single incident on a passenger rail line could lead to hundreds of injuries.
As such, careful adherence to the safety standards is of the utmost importance for companies operating railroads and maintaining railway infrastructure. Workers who notice safety issues may feel compelled to report their concerns, but they may also worry about endangering their jobs.
Whistleblowers have legal protection
Railway workers who are aware of safety violations or issues with infrastructure have protection under federal law if they act as whistleblowers. Whistleblowing can involve internal reports made to management or compliance officers at the company.
Doing so should not result in any form of retaliation, such as an unfavorable transfer, demotion or termination. Whistleblowers who work for railroads also have protection in scenarios where they go directly to regulatory agencies.
The more documentation they have of the safety issues and their attempts to address the matter, the easier it may be to prove that the company unfairly retaliated against them for doing the right thing for the safety of the public. Those who endure retaliation after reporting safety issues may have grounds to take legal action.
Securing guidance and support when deciding to act as a whistleblower could reduce the likelihood of employer retaliation. Whistleblowers often need support while learning about their rights and taking appropriate steps to protect themselves, and that’s okay.
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