Train Accidents Help
Railroad Ballast Injuries
Many railroad workers spend a significant amount of their time in the workplace walking on ballast, the rock which is laid down between the rails for support and drainage.
Although railroad ballast is an important part of railroad construction, railroad workers may be at an increase risk of slip and falls or chronic injuries to their lower body by repeatedly working around it.
In order to reduce this risk of injuries, railroads have guidelines in place to use smaller ballast rocks in places where large amounts of walking take place. These smaller rocks are known as “walking ballast,” compared with the “mainline ballast” that is used elsewhere on the railroad tracks.
When companies fail to use appropriately sized rocks around the tracks where their employees work, they significantly increase the risk of railroad ballast injuries for their workers.
A study conducted by Boston University found that walking on mainline ballast significantly increases the amount of stress placed upon a railroad worker’s lower body compared to walking ballast.
As a result, workers who are forced to regularly walk on mainline ballast are at a greater risk of slips and falls, as well as other injuries to their lower bodies, compared to workers who travel on walking ballast.
The study also found that because of the increased stress from mainline ballast, these workers are also at a greater risk of acquiring musculoskeletal disorders in their lower bodies than with walking ballast.
The study estimated that mainline ballast increased the stress on a railroad worker’s lower body by nearly three times, significantly increasing their risk of railroad injuries.
A number of railroad workers have filed lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA) because they suffered injuries after being forced to walk on mainline ballast.
Several of these companies have been found liable by juries for failing to follow safety standards by placing walking ballast in their railyards.
