Railroad workers have faced extreme measures by supervisors to conceal injuries, including lying, spying, and bribing. Instances include paying a carman to hide a head injury and demanding a doctor to change a discharge record. The culture blames workers for injuries and motivates supervisors to keep injuries off the books, despite railroad companies claiming to be among the safest employers. Brakeman Chris Cole lost both legs on the job, and railroad officials removed evidence, omitted key facts, and suspended him from a job he could never return to. The company's lawyer asked Cole if the incident allowed him to develop stronger relationships with his family. Additionally, a railroad manager covered up a sign that likely caused the accident. These incidents shed light on the dangerous lengths railroad supervisors go to conceal injuries and shift blame onto workers.
After a federal inspector noted that the sign that knocked Chris from the train was likely too close to the tracks, a railroad manager pulled the sign from the ground & covered the hole. “We’re not supposed to leave any divots," he explained. https://t.co/xmHXsgn7OO
A train took both his legs and ended his career. But in court, the train company's lawyer asked him to agree that the incident "allowed you to develop stronger relationships with your wife and daughter?” https://t.co/fNSsfVlJTc
After brakeman Chris Cole lost both his legs on the job, railroad officials removed evidence before state regulators could see it, omitted key facts in reports and suspended him from a job he could never return to. https://t.co/WuLcEfbNW9
A train took both his legs and ended his career. But in court, the train company's lawyer asked him to agree that the incident "allowed you to develop stronger relationships with your wife and daughter?” New, @propublica @Lussenpop @ReporterTopher https://t.co/bUOrbF3afv
Railroader Chris Cole lost both his legs when a train ran over him. Even though the company knew he'd never work in railroading again they suspended him for 30 days anyway. More on how the railroads deal with injured employees By @Lussenpop and myself https://t.co/AY4QLCZqE9
NEW: After brakeman Chris Cole lost both his legs on the job, railroad officials removed evidence before state regulators could see it, omitted key facts in reports and suspended him from a job he could never return to. https://t.co/3lGx0tInWU @Lussenpop @ReporterTopher
New: A Train Took His Legs and Career. His Employers at the Railroad Put the Blame on Him. https://t.co/TPo11ggFxG
Railroad companies say they're among the America's safest employers. But ProPublica found a culture that blames workers when they get hurt and motivates supervisors to go to extreme, sometimes dangerous, lengths to keep injuries off the books. https://t.co/NEFZeSIcl6
One railroad supervisor admitted he paid a carman to hide his head injury. Another accompanied a hurt worker to the ER and demanded the doctor change his discharge record so the railroad would not have to report the injury to the government. https://t.co/g8bP1VU5iL
Railroad officials have lied, spied and bribed to keep workers’ injuries off the books. “Don’t put your job on the line for another employee.” https://t.co/3sc6Yk79qi
New: When Railroad Workers Get Hurt on the Job, Some Supervisors Go to Extremes to Keep It Quiet https://t.co/nb9zXaCfRa