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.
Birdsboro is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, eight miles (13 km) southeast of Reading. In the past, Birdsboro was noted for its large foundries and machine shops, none of which remain in operation today. The population increased slowly from 2,261 in 1890 to 2,264 in 1900 to 2,930 in 1910. The population was 5,064 at the 2000 census. In 1987, torrential rains over a period of several days caused Hay Creek to flood Pennsylvania Route 82, which runs through the borough, and wash out several bridges. After many years of discussion between local and state officials, the decision was finally made in 2004 that the bridges should not be rebuilt. Instead, the former road connecting Birdsboro to Robeson Township would be used formally as a nature trail, as it had been informally used since the time of the flood.