Workers Compensation Insurance
Workers comp covers your non-operating employees — gift shop, food service, museum, and grounds staff — while operating railroad crews are covered for injury under FELA. We coordinate both so every worker is protected.
Workers Comp (and FELA) for Railroad Operations
Railroad employment is unusual: operating railroad crews are generally covered under the federal FELA system rather than state workers compensation, while your non-railroad employees — gift shop clerks, food-service staff, museum and grounds workers, and office employees — are typically covered by ordinary workers comp. Most heritage operations need both, properly coordinated.
Who Workers Comp Covers
- Gift shop and ticketing staff
- Food-service and hospitality employees
- Museum, grounds, and maintenance staff (non-operating)
- Administrative and office employees
FELA vs. Workers Comp — Getting It Right
Misclassifying who falls under FELA versus workers comp is a costly mistake. Operating crews exposed to train movement are generally FELA; many support staff are workers comp. We help you classify roles correctly so the right coverage responds and you aren't left with an uncovered injury or an unexpected audit.
Volunteers — A Heritage Railroad Reality
Museums and tourist railroads run largely on volunteers, who often fall outside both workers comp and clear FELA coverage. We help you understand volunteer exposure and arrange volunteer accident or participant coverage so an injured volunteer isn't left unprotected.
Controlling Your Premium
- Classify operating vs. non-operating roles correctly
- Document a written safety program and training
- Return injured staff to light duty quickly
- Keep a clean claims history to lower your experience modifier
What's Covered
Frequently Asked Questions
Operating crews exposed to train movement generally fall under FELA, not state workers comp, while non-operating staff (shop, food service, grounds, office) are typically workers comp. We help classify each role so the correct coverage responds.
Volunteers often fall outside both workers comp and clear FELA coverage. Because heritage railroads rely heavily on volunteers, we arrange volunteer accident or participant coverage so an injured volunteer isn't left unprotected.