Union Pacific Must Reinstate Injured Nebraska Worker, Pay Damages

Federal regulators have ordered Union Pacific to reinstate an injured Nebraska worker and pay $85,000 in damages.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the railroad improperly terminated the North Platte employee after he reported an injury.

A Union Pacific spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a message. It is not clear whether the railroad plans to appeal.

OSHA says the worker hurt his back in Oct. 2012 after a chair he was sitting on collapsed. After the injury, regulators say the worker was removed from duty and accused of violating several railroad policies, including workplace violence rules.

Regulators say he was fired in retaliation for reporting the injury.

Few details were released about the employee because regulators consider him a whistleblower.