The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating a recent incident that resulted in tragedy on a railroad line in another state. Connecticut has been the scene of fatal railroad worker injuries like this in the past. The OSHA investigation is a common procedure when a workplace fatality has occurred on the railroad.
In this particular situation, a 42-year old man had been working at the railroad company for approximately eight months before the accident happened. He was a maintenance technician and warehouseman at the shipping terminal. A train car switching operation was apparently underway when the worker was suddenly struck by an unmanned rail car.
Sadly, the worker did not survive his injuries. His passing devastated the entire community as he is said to come from a long line of family members who work in law enforcement and other public service industries throughout the community. The decedent’s brother, in fact, is said to have survived a head wound from a gunshot that he suffered at the hands of a suspect who fired on his police patrol car.
The worker’s family, colleagues and neighbors now await answers to their many questions regarding the specific details of events that led to his sudden death. Family members of those who suffer fatal railroad worker injuries in Connecticut or elsewhere often work within the Federal Employers’ Liability Act system to seek recovery for their losses. Anyone considering filing such a claim would likely want to seek experienced legal guidance before doing so.
Source: siouxcityjournal.com, “Employee killed in Big Soo rail accident identified“, Mason Dockter, March 29, 2018