When whistleblowers are considering if they should take action or not, they often run into something of a dilemma. They're just not sure what to do, and it's a hard decision to make. The consequences in either direction can feel monumental. This often means that...
How can AI improve railroad crossing safety?
Railroad crossings are one of the most dangerous points on the whole rail system. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration reports that 1,279 people have died in the 10,525 railroad crossing incidents during the past five years. Drivers...
Should you blow the whistle on your railroad employer?
You work on the railroad. You recently saw a safety hazard and tried to report it to one of your supervisors, but they were not receptive and told you to ignore it. Figuring it was important for public safety, you went over their head and lodged a report. Several...
How can you prevent employer retaliation if you report fraud?
If you see something dishonest going on at work, it can leave you feeling uneasy. You know it is not correct, and you want to report it, but you are afraid of what might happen if you do. The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that it recovered over $3 billion under...
Your role as a railway whistleblower filing a qui tam claim
The False Claims Act gives the federal government the authority to take action against those who bill the government inappropriately. There are thousands of businesses in medicine and railway infrastructure that routinely bill the government for services rendered, so...
Can you anonymously report a railway that employs you?
As someone helping to maintain or expand railway infrastructure, your job is safety-critical. You probably invest a lot of care in your daily habits to make sure that you don't do anything that would compromise the quality of your work or the safety of other people....
Whistleblower files retaliation claim against Norfolk Southern
The Federal Rail Safety Act (FRSA) prohibits retaliation against railroad workers who report safety violations. However, a former engineer with Norfolk Southern says he and his crew were harassed and subjected to extra scrutiny and new timetables before he was...
What are the most common reasons why rail workers file whistleblower claims?
Whistleblowing statutes protect workers who come forward and disclose protected activities and safety hazards from being retaliated against by their employers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for enforcing at least 22 federal...
Are you protected if you blow the whistle on your employer?
If you know that your employer is not following the law and has hazards in your workplace that haven’t been addressed, that’s something you can report. Similarly, if you feel your career is in danger because you refuse to work in those condition, it’s time to speak up...
Tips for would-be whistleblowers
You’ve heard it before: “When you see something, say something.” Railroad employees and workers in certain other professions are constantly encouraged to speak up about abuses, dangerous practices, negligence and fraud -- but blowing the whistle isn’t always easy....