Although many may think that train accidents are a thing of the past, in 2016 alone there were 2,668 train accidents or incidents that resulted in 172 fatalities and 1,989 non-fatal injuries. These accidents may occur in a variety of situations, including on the job or in a collision involving a train.
On the job, railroad workers are constantly in danger of injury. Because of the exposure to heavy machinery and cargo, railroad workers may be pinned and suffer from internal bleeding, organ damage, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries and/or amputation. Moving engines and train cars can injure workers by colliding with other trains in the yard or workers, causing injuries to those inside and outside of the train cars. Lastly, the heavy cargo, consisting of toxic or flammable materials, can severely burn or poison workers, leading to life-long severe (or fatal) injuries.