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.
Vandergrift is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it had the largest sheet steel mill in the world. In July, 1915, the borough of Vandergrift Heights was consolidated with Vandergrift. In 1900, 2,076 people lived here; in 1910, 3,876. The population of Vandergrift Heights was 3,438 in 1910, therefore, the consolidation in 1915 almost doubled the population of Vandergrift. In 1940, 10,725 people lived in Vandergrift. The population was 5,455 at the 2000 census.