PINEVILLE — A man is suing Norfolk Southern Railway Company after he claims the company did not provide him with a safe place to work.
Bobby E. Tabor has worked for Norfolk his entire professional career and his job consisted of servicing West Virginia customers in the coal industry, according to a complaint filed in Wyoming Circuit Court.
Tabor claims he was assigned to work on and around engines and walk on large mainline ballast while dropping off and picking up rail cars and that over time, the defendant cut the number of crew members who worked the jobs out of Bluefield, which was where he was assigned.
The reduction of crew size increased the job demands, especially the stooping, squatting, climbing and walking of the conductors, including Tabor, according to the suit.
In the fall of 2016, Tabor claims Norfolk cut off a utility job to which he was assigned, which, as a result, required him to walk long distances on mainline ballast and caused his knees to start hurting.
Tabor claims Norfolk had a duty to provide him with a reasonably safe place to work and knew or should have known that requiring him to walk long distances on uneven surfaces and walkways the comprised of mainline ballast would likely cause repetitive injuries to his lower extremities, especially his knees.
The defendant's negligence caused Tabor to suffer significant injuries and damages, including lost wages, lost benefits and physical pain and suffering, according to the suit.
Tabor claims despite that knowledge, Norfolk regularly assigned him to work and walk on the mainline ballast and failed to staff the transportation crews with sufficient men to reduce the amount of walking under such conditions.
Tabor is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by Bert Ketchum of Greene Ketchum Farrell Bailey & Tweel; and John A. Moss and John D. Steel of Steel & Moss.
Wyoming Circuit Court case number: 18-C-116