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.
Eckhart Mines is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. Eckhart Mines lies at the southwestern base of Federal Hill, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) east of Frostburg and 1.3 km (0.8 mi) northwest of Clarysville. The town was originally founded as a company town for the nearby Eckhart Mines. The outcrop of the Pittsburgh coal seam here is known locally as the big vein or the 14 foot coal. The Eckhart Mines' location here was the first bituminous coal mine developed in the Georges Creek Valley coalfield because this is where The National Road crossed the coal outcrop. The Eckhart operation was owned by the Maryland Mining Company which eventually combined with other companies to form the Consolidation Coal Company.