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.
Clendenin is a town in Kanawha County, West Virginia along the Elk River. The population was 1,116 at the 2000 census. Clendenin was incorporated in 1904 and named for the Clendenins, an early pioneer family in the Kanawha River Valley. Charleston, WV retains the namesake of George Clendenin's father, Charles Clendenin. George Clendenin owned a large portion of present-day Charleston and settled at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers with several other families. The first petrochemical plant in the world was built in Clendenin in 1920. This plant was the original Union Carbide Corporation facility. Other chief economic staples included (and to some extent still include) timber, coal, gas, oil, and salt. In the 1960s, the hillside on the south side of town featured a sign reading, "Clendenin's Beauty is Everyone's Duty". The current mayor of Clendenin is Mayor Robert Ore. Town elections (including the office of mayor and city council) occur every two years. Recent efforts have been made by the Business and Industrial Development Corporation (headquartered in Charleston) to enhance economic and cultural development in the town.