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.
Reynoldsville is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, 120 miles (193 km) northeast of Pittsburgh, in a productive soft coal region. In the past, it had silk mills, brick and tile works, a tannery, a macaroni factory, and an asbestos plant to provide employment. In 1900, the population stood at 3,435 people; and in 1910, 3,189. Reynoldsville was greatly enlarged in 1913 when it annexed West Reynoldsville (population 993 in 1910) and three large adjacent areas. The population was 2,710 at the 2000 census.