Railroad worker injuries are covered under the Federal Employees Liability Act which requires that a railroad maintains their fleet, ensuring that their trains are in good working order and free of defects. If a railroad does not comply with these standards, they may be liable for injuries to their workers. Damages railroad workers may receive include medical treatments, present and future lost wages and mental trauma. An injury on the railway can range from a minor sprain to a spinal injury so severe that it leads to death. Some of the most common injuries that affect railway workers are head trauma, knee injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, brain trauma or spinal cord injuries. The Federal Employees Liability Act protects railroad workers and others as diverse as clerical employees whose day-to-day functions do not directly involve trains or outdoor activity.
Harlan is an unincorporated town in Springfield Township, Allen County, Indiana. As of the 2000 Census, Harlan has a population of 1,183. Present-day Harlan is the mergance of the towns of Harlan and Maysville. The border between the two towns was Georgetown Road (Indiana State Road 37) with Harlan being on the north side of the road. Maysville faded from existence when the post office was built in Harlan sometime around the turn of the 20 century.