OSHA Investigating Whistleblower's Claims

New York- OSHA investigated claims by 4 railroad "whistleblower" employees regarding work-related injuries. OSHA required that the railroad payback lost wages, fees, and punitive damages of $300,000.00. "Railroad employees have the right to report occupational injuries and illnesses without fear that doing so will negatively affect their jobs, their health, or their income," said Jordan Barab, acting U.S. assistant secretary of labor for safety and health. "Retaliating against employees for exercising this basic, legally protected workplace right is unacceptable."
The injuries were obtained in 2007 and 2008, and the employees completed whistleblower complaints with OSHA. The employees complained that the railroad took disciplinary action because they reported their injuries. The result was that the railroad interfered with their treatment plans or reclassified their injuries. OSHA investigated the complaint and found it valid. OSHA has mandated the railroad to take corrective actions in the following ways: expunging disciplinary actions, compensating the workers for lost wages or out-of-pocket medical expenses with attorneys' fees, amending the policy regarding work-related sick leave, and pay each employee $75,000.00 each in punitive damages. The railroad has the normal time frame to fight the complaint or comply.