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.
Slab Fork is an unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States with a population of 202. The ZIP code for Slab Fork is 25920. Slab Fork is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Bill Withers, who gained international renown in the 1970s with songs such as "Ain't No Sunshine", "Lean on Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Use Me" and "Lovely Day". The community's percentage of married households is lower than the national average, but the percentage of families (households with children) is higher than the national average. The median income in Slab Fork is approximately $33,500, which is 20% lower than the national average. As of the 2000 United States Census, none of the residents had received a college degree. According to the 2000 census, 199 of the community's 202 residents were white, two were of mixed race, and one was an Alaskan native or American Indian.