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.
Walker Valley is a hamlet located in the western part of the Town of Shawangunk in Ulster County, New York, U.S. , generally thought of as coterminous with the 12588 ZIP code. The population was 758 at the 2000 census. Walker Valley is one of the three geographic parts of the town that local residents use. It is centered around NY 52 in the western part of town, where it begins to slope up to the Shawangunk Ridge.