News Release

BNSF Ends DNA Testing For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

FORT WORTH, Texas, February 12, 2001:

Over the past weekend, the executive team of The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) reviewed the history of its pilot DNA testing program for carpal tunnel syndrome, which was initiated in March 2000. Effective today, the team concluded that BNSF will stop including in any employee testing a DNA factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.

As part of the rail industry’s safety rules and negotiated union agreements, BNSF may require its employees to take a medical examination as a method to evaluate a range of employee injury claims. In March 2000, BNSF included in this examination a genetic factor only for some employees who claim work-related carpal tunnel syndrome.

About 125 BNSF employees have filed claims since March 2000 for carpal tunnel syndrome related injuries. About 20 BNSF employees completed a medical examination to support their claims. Several employees refused to take the blood test, but none received any disciplinary action. All of the employees who filed these claims are active members of BNSF’s 40,000-person workforce. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) court action had erroneously asserted that the DNA test had been broadly requested of BNSF employees, when in fact, the test had been requested only in response to a limited number of carpal tunnel injury claims. Further, the DNA portion of the medical examination was not being used to determine the employee’s present ability to perform his or her job, as reported.

BNSF this morning (Monday, February 12, 2001) also agreed to an order to be entered by the Federal District Court in Sioux City, Iowa, in response to the February 9 court action by the EEOC. In the order, BNSF voluntarily agreed to suspend testing that would identify a genetic cause for carpal tunnel syndrome in response to employee claims.

BNSF operates one of the largest rail networks in North America, with 33,500 route miles of track covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces.

BNSF Headquarters
BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000