US LABOR DEPARTMENT FINDS RAILROAD ILLEGALLY TERMINATED EMPLOYEE WHO REFUSED TO WORK DURING SEVERE WEATHER

LITTLE ROCK, AR, Oct. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following press release:

A U.S. Department of LaborOccupational Safety and Health Administration whistleblower investigation has concluded that Union Pacific Railroad Co. violated theFederal Railroad Safety Act when it removed from service and later terminated a North Little Rock yardman who notified management of nearby lightning and federal safety standards.

OSHA determined that the employee voiced concerns about nearby lightning, cited OSHA and NOAA lightening safety guidelines(link is external), initiated a safety stand-down, and refused to work until the storm passed. Within minutes of the stand-down, Union Pacific removed the employee from service and was later charg...