OSHA Orders Conn. MetroNorth to Pay $142,000 to Worker

Federal safety officials have ordered MetroNorth to pay nearly $142,000 in damages and promote a worker who accused the commuter railroad of discrimination.

A spokeswoman says MetroNorth denies the worker’s accusations and will appeal.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday the unidentified worker accused MetroNorth in 2008 of classifying an injury as not work-related though it occurred on the job. OSHA said MetroNorth refused to promote the worker due to his injury.

Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for the railroad that serves New York and Connecticut, says the worker injured his knee at lunch at the railroad and sued to avoid medical copayments of more than $2,000. She said the decision to not promote him was unrelated to his injury.

OSHA ordered $125,000 in punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages and legal and medical expenses.