Railroad Penalized for Retaliating Against Whistleblower
OSHA orders CPKC to pay damages after suspending an employee who reported a train collision and safety hazards.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- May 06, 2026
A federal investigation found that Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. violated federal law by suspending an employee who reported a train collision and safety concerns.
The U.S. DOL’s OSHA said the Kansas City-based worker was disciplined in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act after reporting a minor collision at the company’s Knoche Yard in August 2024.
The employee, who was not present during the crash, learned of it from a co-worker and reported it to the Federal Railroad Administration two days later, according to OSHA. Investigators said company management was aware of the collision through radio traffic and internal rumors but did not begin an investigation until after the employee’s report prompted a federal inspection.
OSHA said the railroad later accused the employee of violating company policy by failing to notify management of the crash and suspended the worker for 20 days without pay. The employee also served as a union chairman.
The agency ordered CPKC to rescind the suspension, pay back wages with interest and remove the disciplinary action from the employee’s record. OSHA also said the company must pay compensatory and punitive damages.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.