NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that Union Pacific Railroad Co. violated federal railroad safety law when it removed a North Little Rock employee from service and later fired him after he raised concerns about lightning near the workplace.
OSHA’s whistleblower investigation found that the employee, a yardman, notified management about nearby lightning and cited federal safety standards and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lightning safety guidelines.
According to OSHA, the employee initiated a safety stand-down and refused to work until the storm passed. Within minutes, Union Pacific removed him from service and later charged him with insubordination. The company terminated his employment May 30, 2024…