The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. to reinstate an employee who was terminated for reporting an unsafe customer gate and an on-the-job injury.
An OSHA investigation found the company violated the whistleblower provision of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) when it issued the employee a charge letter and subjected them to an investigative hearing that led to their termination.
CSX will reinstate the employee and pay more than $95,000 in back wages, $75,000 in punitive damages, $27,000 in compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.
“This order underscores the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to protect employees who report workplace hazards and injuries,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer, based in Atlanta, in a statement.
OSHA has also ordered the company to train managers and employees on FRSA’s worker protections.