The U.S. Department of Labor is ordering the Norfolk Southern Railway Company to pay over $580,000 in damages to an illegally terminated Decatur employee. 

OSHA ordered the compensation after the railroad violated whistleblower protections in the Federal Railroad Safety Act.  A Decatur utility switchman was fired in August 2009 after the train he was riding derailed in the trainyard. 

Norfolk Southern alleged that the man provided false information about the injury.  OSHA found the rail company at fault, also ruling the switchman must be restored to a position with the proper seniority level.