--- title: FELA Attorney's Blog | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers | reporting safety concerns description: reporting safety concerns | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers for on job injuries and whistleblower claims and those of injured passengers. --- [![fw-fela-logo.png](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fw-fela-logo.png?width=504&name=fw-fela-logo.png "fw-fela-logo.png")](https://www.felaattorney.com/) ![lpheader-blog-header.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LP_Headers/lpheader-blog-header.jpg?width=1024&name=lpheader-blog-header.jpg "lpheader-blog-header.jpg") ## FELA Attorney's Blog | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers and rail passengers ## [Is it Just Me, or Are You Dangerously Tired Too?](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/is-it-just-me-or-are-you-dangerously-tired-too) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Mar 24, 2016 9:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![CSX_railroad_on_job_injury_FELA.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CSX_railroad_on_job_injury_FELA.jpg?width=1024&name=CSX_railroad_on_job_injury_FELA.jpg "CSX_railroad_on_job_injury_FELA.jpg")It isn’t like we haven’t all heard from our elders how we need more sleep. And our significant others have politely tried to tell us how haggard we look.  We have noticed our short tempers, faulty memory and absent-mindedness when tired.  The truth is poor sleep habits are the norm today. But on the railroad it isn’t just making people cranky, it’s setting the table for dangerous work habits. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/is-it-just-me-or-are-you-dangerously-tired-too) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/is-it-just-me-or-are-you-dangerously-tired-too#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [whistleblower](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns) ## [On the Job Dangers Railroad Engineers Know Too Well](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/on-the-job-dangers-railroad-engineers-need-to-know-about) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Jan 7, 2016 12:09:14 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![LIRR_C7_locomotive_cab_safety_hazard](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Engineer_safety_hazard_photos/Lirr_C7_locomotive_cab.jpg?width=640&name=Lirr_C7_locomotive_cab.jpg "LIRR_C7_locomotive_cab_safety_hazard") Was it the promise of better pay? Maybe it's because you thought you would have better conditions sitting inside of the cab? Or maybe it is the cool factor of being in control of a multi-ton behemoth. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/on-the-job-dangers-railroad-engineers-need-to-know-about) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/on-the-job-dangers-railroad-engineers-need-to-know-about#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [Engineers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/engineers) ## [MNRR Workers: Meet Your New Chief Safety Officer](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/mnrr-workers-meet-your-new-chief-safety-officer) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Dec 22, 2015 5:30:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![metro_north_chief_safety_officer_Vonashek.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-1194765291.jpg?width=1024&name=file-1194765291.jpg "metro_north_chief_safety_officer_Vonashek.jpg")   Here is the face of MNRR’s continuing safety initiative. His name is Justin Vonashek. He will start on Jan. 4, 2016 as vice president of System Safety. Will he able to win over the trust of the rank and file track level workers? That remains to be seen, but a lack of on track experience isn’t a good sign, despite his transit accolades. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/mnrr-workers-meet-your-new-chief-safety-officer) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/mnrr-workers-meet-your-new-chief-safety-officer#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [Metro North](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/metro-north) ## [Without PTC, Amtrak and Railroad Industry Are Out of Control](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on May 15, 2015 9:38:23 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![amtrak ignores ntsb safety warnings on PTC](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/amtrak_signage-367513-edited.jpg?width=494&name=amtrak_signage-367513-edited.jpg "amtrak ignores ntsb safety warnings on PTC")   They knew what to do, but chose not to do it   Even as we try to sort out what lead Amtrak #188 to accelerate into a curve in Philly, which required deceleration, we are reminded that the very railroad which is supposed to be the prototype for safety for all others, is not keeping up.  [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control#comments-listing) Topics: [Passenger railroad injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries), [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [commuter](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/commuter), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents), [injured passengers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/injured-passengers), [NTSB](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/ntsb), [amtrak](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak) ## [Appeals Court Reverses Decision in Bala v PATH Whistleblower Case](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/appeals-court-reverses-decision-in-bala-v-path-whistleblower-case) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Jan 17, 2015 10:24:02 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![DSCF0714-103154-edited](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-2360671312.jpg)Railroad workers' rights took a hit this week when a federal appellate court reversed the decision of the Administrative Review Board in Bala vs PATH. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, reversed the ARB decision, which protected a workers right to follow doctors's orders. This was one of the [13 ways of triggering the Whistleblower protections](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/10-reasons-you-might-have-a-whistleblower-claim-against-railroad) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA). [You can download the decision here.](https://www.felaattorney.com/decision-reversing-federal-whistleblower-case-bala-v-path) Bala vs PATH was the 2013 decision that prevented a carrier from disciplining an employee who was following doctors orders, regardless of whether the underlying condition was work related or not.  The reversal means that in those courts within the Third Circuit, only a doctor note pertaining to an on the job injury gives protection to the employee. Concussion at home when something falls from the garage shelf, making you dizzy? *Not excused.* Stomach bug has you throwing up? *Not excused. * These absences can still be counted for purposes of attendance policies. **This means that workers can ****be disciplined for absences when they follow a doctor's order not to return to work. **This will have long term ramifications as well as immediate. ### * Worker's currently suing the railroad in the affected courts for such an issue could see their whole cases invalidated.* [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/appeals-court-reverses-decision-in-bala-v-path-whistleblower-case) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/appeals-court-reverses-decision-in-bala-v-path-whistleblower-case#comments-listing) Topics: [FAQs on the job injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/faqs-on-the-job-injuries), [Rights of Railroad workers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/rights-of-railroad-workers), [whistleblower](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [how much is my case worth?](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-much-is-my-case-worth) ## [[PHOTOS] 8 More Absurdly Common Safety Hazards For Railroad Workers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-8-more-absurdly-common-safety-hazards-for-railroad-workers) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Dec 29, 2014 3:49:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![railroad workers sue carrier for safety negligence](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-2171362400.jpg?width=326&name=file-2171362400.jpg "railroad workers sue carrier for safety negligence")In my last blog about the everyday dangers railroad workers face on the job, I shared [nine photos of on-the-job hazards that led to injuries for my clients.](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-9-unbelievably-common-railroad-safety-hazards) Unfortunately for employees, it wasn't hard to dig up a bunch more. Each of these photos represents a failure by the railroad to ensure a safe work environment for its workers. That's eight instances where a carrier negligence violated FELA, the law that protects rail workers. See if you can spot the safety hazards in each of these pictures. I bet you encountered some of them on your last shift. [All photos by Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/) [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-8-more-absurdly-common-safety-hazards-for-railroad-workers) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-8-more-absurdly-common-safety-hazards-for-railroad-workers#comments-listing) Topics: [FAQs on the job injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/faqs-on-the-job-injuries), [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [FELA recovery](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-recovery), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [FELA injury](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-injury) ## [[PHOTOS] 9 Unbelievably Common Railroad Safety Hazards](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-9-unbelievably-common-railroad-safety-hazards) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Dec 3, 2014 1:15:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![common railroad saftey hazards](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-2171362405.jpg?width=326&name=file-2171362405.jpg "common railroad saftey hazards")Have you been on the railroad over five years? Then you are most likely numb. Not from winter weather in early November, but to the railroad safety hazards around you daily.  That is both dangerous and avoidable. Becoming desensitized to the dangers of train work makes you take unnecessary risks. Instead of voicing a concern, and possibly incurring the wrath of a general foreman, you shrug it off as something you've done hundreds of times before without incident. But if nine out of 10 people walk across the thin ice without falling through, and only the last does, does that mean the ice was safe? Of course not. It means the first nine got lucky. And so it is with you. **In this post we'll use photos to highlight common safety hazards workers face everyday.** [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-9-unbelievably-common-railroad-safety-hazards) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/photos-9-unbelievably-common-railroad-safety-hazards#comments-listing) Topics: [Rights of Railroad workers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/rights-of-railroad-workers), [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [whistleblower](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns) ## [Rail Worker Awarded $400k After Firing by Springfield Terminal Railway](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/rail-worker-awarded-400k-after-firing-by-springfield-terminal-railway) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Jul 16, 2014 12:45:25 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![20140602_172245](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-1255165184.jpg?width=326&name=file-1255165184.jpg)Portland, Maine -- A New England railroad worker was awarded $400,000 in June when a federal jury ruled that the railroad had fired him illegally after he voiced safety concerns at a jobsite. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/rail-worker-awarded-400k-after-firing-by-springfield-terminal-railway) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/rail-worker-awarded-400k-after-firing-by-springfield-terminal-railway#comments-listing) Topics: [whistleblower](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower), [compensatory damages](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/compensatory-damages), [punitive damages](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/punitive-damages), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns) [All posts](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/all) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [FELA injury (31)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-injury) - [FAQs on the job injuries (24)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/faqs-on-the-job-injuries) - [Basic steps to filing a fela lawsuit (20)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/basic-steps-to-filing-a-fela-lawsuit) - [Railroad safety issues (19)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues) - [FELA recovery (15)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-recovery) - [whistleblower (13)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower) - [Rights of Railroad workers (11)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/rights-of-railroad-workers) - [settlements (10)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/settlements) - [reporting safety concerns (8)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns) - [how to file a claim against railroad (7)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-a-claim-against-railroad) - [verdict (7)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/verdict) - [how much is my case worth? (6)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-much-is-my-case-worth) - [how to file your own injury claim (6)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-your-own-injury-claim) - [how to hire a railroad lawyer (6)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-hire-a-railroad-lawyer) - [trials (6)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/trials) - [FELA v Workers' Comp (5)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-v-workers-comp) - [Passenger railroad injuries (5)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries) - [Train accidents (5)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents) - [commuter (5)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/commuter) - [unions (5)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/unions) - [Checklist for hiring railroad lawyer (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/checklist-for-hiring-railroad-lawyer) - [LIRR (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/lirr) - [PEB (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/peb) - [amtrak (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak) - [compensatory damages (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/compensatory-damages) - [injured passengers (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/injured-passengers) - [lost wages (4)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/lost-wages) - [eye injury (3)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/eye-injury) - [wage loss calculator (3)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/wage-loss-calculator) - [Hoboken crash 2016 (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/hoboken-crash-2016) - [LIRR strike (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/lirr-strike) - [NJ Transit (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/nj-transit) - [NTSB (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/ntsb) - [PEB 245 (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/peb-245) - [Thoughts on the legal industry (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/thoughts-on-the-legal-industry) - [attacked at work (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/attacked-at-work) - [surveillance (2)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/surveillance) - [Engineers (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/engineers) - [FRR deep dive into Metro-North safety culture (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/frr-deep-dive-into-metro-north-safety-culture) - [MTA (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/mta) - [Medical forms (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/medical-forms) - [Metro North (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/metro-north) - [Multiple injuries (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/multiple-injuries) - [Railroad blogs to read (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-blogs-to-read) - [crude oil (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/crude-oil) - [finger injury (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/finger-injury) - [hosptial (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/hosptial) - [medical marijuana (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/medical-marijuana) - [punitive damages (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/punitive-damages) - [railroad injury deposition (1)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-injury-deposition) [see all](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns#) ### About Us ![Flynn Wietzke FELA injury attorneys](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fw-fela-logo-drkbkg.png?width=504&name=fw-fela-logo-drkbkg.png "Flynn Wietzke FELA injury attorneys") Railroad lawyer Marc Wietzke focuses on FELA injury and whistleblower law for railroad workers injured or punished on the job. ### Services - [Home](https://www.felaattorney.com/) - [About Us](https://www.felaattorney.com/about-us) - [Wins](https://www.felaattorney.com/wins) - [Blog](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.felaattorney.com/contact-us) ### From Blog --- ### Main Office 1205 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 T: (516) 877-1234 • F: (516) 877-1177 *With offices throughout the country [![Super Lawyers since 2014](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/new-fela-super-lawyers-logo-white-since-2014.png?width=150&height=150&name=new-fela-super-lawyers-logo-white-since-2014.png)](http://profiles.superlawyers.com/new-york-metro/garden-city/lawyer/marc-wietzke/11f74a17-3aee-4c7b-98a7-8a2f7803ab57.html) [![Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/multimillion-dollar-advocates-forum.png?width=150&height=150&name=multimillion-dollar-advocates-forum.png)](http://milliondollaradvocates.com/) [![ARLA](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/arla-footer.png?width=150&height=150&name=arla-footer.png)](http://www.arladepot.org/officers.html) [![10 Best Attorney 2017 American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ten-best-attorney.png?width=150&height=150&name=ten-best-attorney.png)](http://aiopia.org/) [![Best Attorney of America Lifetime Charter Member](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/best-attorney-of-america-lifetime-charter-member.png?width=150&height=150&name=best-attorney-of-america-lifetime-charter-member.png)](https://www.bestattorneysofamerica.com/) [![Best Law Firms of America Lifetime Member](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/best-law-firms-of-america-footer.png?width=150&height=150&name=best-law-firms-of-america-footer.png)](https://bestlawfirmsofamerica.com/) --- ***ATTORNEY ADVERTISING - ***Prior results don’t guarantee a similar outcome in your claim. This website and blog are for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice, since only after knowing the details of your claim can any advice be provided. Please understand that particular laws vary by state. You must speak directly with an attorney about your situation to determine what laws apply.   PRIVACY POLICY - As a law firm, we do not share any information received from any contact without that contact's specific permission.