Common injuries affecting brakemen, switchmen, and yardmasters
The physical and operational demands of yard and switching work can lead to a wide range of injuries, including:
- Back and neck injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Crush and caught-between injuries
- Hand and finger injuries
- Foot and ankle injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
How these injuries can happen
For brakemen, switchmen, and yardmasters, injuries often involve moving equipment, switching operations, walking surfaces, and communication between crew members.
Common scenarios may include:
- Unexpected railcar movement
- Coupling and uncoupling incidents
- Shoving movements
- Workers caught between railcars
- Falls while mounting or dismounting equipment
- Slips or trips on ballast or uneven yard surfaces
- Defective switches, handholds, steps, or ladders
- Poor radio or crew communication
- Unsecured rolling equipment
- Yard collisions
- Repetitive climbing, bending, or lifting
- Long-term exposure to noise and vibration
Safety bulletin
Injured while working as a brakeman, switchman, or yardmaster? Do this now.
1
Get medical care
Seek appropriate medical attention and clearly explain how the injury occurred, including the movement, equipment, work area, or switching activity involved.
2
Document the yard and equipment
Record the railcar numbers, locomotive numbers, track location, switch location, crew members, and equipment involved.
3
Preserve details about the movement
Write down whether the incident involved a shove, coupling, uncoupling, rolling equipment, switch movement, or unexpected train movement while the details are still fresh.
4
Identify witnesses
Record the names of crew members, yard employees, supervisors, dispatchers, or others who witnessed the incident or were aware of the conditions involved.
5
Be accurate when reporting the injury
Describe the conditions, equipment, and events that contributed to the injury. Avoid guessing about facts you do not know.
6
Talk to a FELA attorney before signing important documents
Statements, releases, authorizations, settlement documents, or other paperwork may affect your rights after a serious railroad injury.
Injuries that develop over time
Not every injury in the yard or switching work results from a single accident.
Years of climbing on and off equipment, walking ballast, operating switches, lifting, bending, riding equipment, and working in vibrating environments can contribute to chronic back, neck, shoulder, knee, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Hearing loss may also develop after long-term exposure to locomotives, horns, yard equipment, and other high-noise environments.
When symptoms develop gradually, documenting your work history can be important. Record the duties you performed, the physical demands of the work, the equipment used, the years of exposure, and when symptoms first appeared.
How FELA may apply
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, or FELA, allows covered railroad employees to pursue damages when railroad negligence contributes in whole or in part to an injury.
For brakemen, switchmen, and yardmasters, an investigation may examine issues such as:
- Switching and shoving procedures
- Coupling and uncoupling practices
- Yard communication
- Equipment condition
- Switch condition
- Crew staffing
- Training
- Walking surfaces
- Lighting
- Yard traffic and movement control
- Prior complaints
- Operating and safety procedures
What a brakeman, switchman, or yardmaster FELA case may be worth
There is no standard value for a brakeman, switchman, or yardmaster injury claim.
The value of a FELA case can depend on the severity of the injury, medical treatment, whether the worker can return to railroad service, lost earnings, future restrictions, long-term medical needs, and the evidence showing how railroad negligence contributed to the injury.
Evidence that may matter
Important evidence can include:
- Switch lists and yard records: These may help establish how railcars were being moved, where equipment was located, and what work was being performed.
- Radio and crew communications: Communications may help document instructions, warnings, shoving movements, and coordination between crew members.
- Equipment inspection and maintenance records: These can be important when couplers, switches, ladders, steps, handholds, brakes, or other equipment are involved.
- Photos and video: Images can preserve track conditions, ballast, equipment positions, clearances, switches, and other hazards before conditions change.
- Witness statements: Other crew members and yard employees may provide important information about movements, communication, and working conditions.
- Work and assignment records: Crew assignments, yard records, work history, and other documents may help establish the circumstances surrounding the injury.