Work zones place signal workers next to idling locomotives that release diesel exhaust, inside signal housings coated with lead-based paint from decades past, and around creosote-treated wooden structures that leach toxic compounds. Maintenance tasks require solvents and electrical contact cleaners that evaporate into confined spaces. Through inhalation and skin absorption, these substances enter the body every shift.
Signal workers are particularly at risk during daily operations:
- Testing live electrical circuits that deliver shocks and burns when insulation fails
- Climbing ladders and towers on uneven ground, where falls cause severe injuries
- Carrying heavy equipment and tools that strain muscles and ligaments
- Working during train movements when limited sight lines prevent adequate warning
- Responding to emergency repairs under pressure while trains wait on delayed schedules
- Performing maintenance during night shifts when error rates increase measurably
According to a study that analyzed 15,654 serious railroad roadway worker injuries between 1997 and 2014, the risk of fatal and nonfatal injuries increased significantly at night and early in the morning. Overnight hours were the most dangerous time for track and signal craft workers. Signal workers who handle electrical systems that control train movement are at risk of fatigue and irregular work schedules, according to research.
Electrical malfunctions send current through workers' bodies, stopping hearts or causing burns that require skin grafts and amputations. Falls caused by missteps on wet ladder rungs can shatter bones and lead to traumatic brain injuries. Trains strike workers who receive inadequate warning about approaching movements or who work without proper flag protection. Lead dust and diesel particulates accumulate in organs and damage lung tissue over time.
Relevant job titles
- Signal maintainer
- Signal technician
- Signal electrician
- Signal inspector
- Communications signal worker
FELA compensation for signal workers
A railroad employee who suffers an injury or illness due to negligence may be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. To determine how unsafe practices contributed to your injury, ELG Law examines logs of electrical system maintenance, work zone protection protocols, and shift scheduling records. Code violations are identified by electrical safety experts, and occupational electrical injuries and chemical exposures are treated by medical professionals.
Our investigation focuses on identifying failures in training programs, equipment maintenance, and workplace safety measures that led to your injury or illness. If you are claiming FELA compensation, you must provide proof that you were employed by a railroad engaged in interstate commerce and that employer actions or omissions contributed to your condition.
If you're a signal worker diagnosed with cancer or severe conditions related to job hazards, you might have grounds for a claim. Cancers connected to PFAS that are compensable include:
Signal workers exposed to asbestos-containing infrastructure components during their careers remain vulnerable to serious health consequences. Diesel exhaust and creosote exposure likewise present considerable hazards to those working on railway systems. Additional compensable cancers include:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Throat cancer (esophageal, laryngeal, pharyngeal)
- Colon cancer
- Rectal cancer
Cancers caused by benzene:
ELG Law further represents signal workers who have sustained catastrophic injuries.