Denton
A BNSF Railway Company worker has filed suit against his employer, alleging he sustained shoulder injuries when a locomotive moved forward as he was boarding it.
Billy Ray Young claims he was working as a locomotive engineer for BNSF on May 31, 2007, at the company's Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, Okla., and was attempting to board a locomotive when it began moving forward, striking him.
Because of the incident, Young sustained injuries to his right shoulder and arm; endured severe pain and suffering; sustained psychological and emotional injury, mental anguish and anxiety; incurred medical costs; and lost wages, his earning capacity and benefits, according to the complaint filed May 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Young sustained additional injuries to his right shoulder, right arm, neck, back and knees because of the excessive awkward movements he has been forced to perform throughout his career with the company since 1977, the suit states.
Young blames BNSF for causing his injuries, saying the company failed to provide him with a safe place to work, failed to provide him with safe methods for work, failed to provide him with safe conditions for work, failed to provide him with safe equipment for work, failed to comply with OSHA's General Duty clause, failed to monitor employees for effects of cumulative trauma, failed to warn him of potential health hazards, failed to implement adequate engineering controls, failed to implement adequate administrative controls and failed to properly maintain its track.
In his two-count complaint, Young is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.
Roger C. Denton of Schlichter, Bogard and Denton in St. Louis will be representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-254.