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.
Lansford is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, 27 miles (43 km) north of Allentown. Settled in 1845, Lansford was incorporated in 1876. In 1900, 4,888 people lived in Lansford; in 1910, 8,321 people inhabited it, and in 1940, 8,710 residents called Lansford home. The population was 4,230 at the 2000 census. Lansford is located 9 miles (15 km) south of Hazleton, near anthracite coal mines. The old No. 9 Wash Shanty coal mine in Lansford, which operated from 1855 to 1972, is now open as a tourist attraction offering tours of the mine. One of the bosses of the mine was shot as part of the union strife which included the trial of the Molly Maguires. A museum displaying a collection of mining artifacts is also on the site.