RUPERT — A Union Pacific Railroad employee has filed a lawsuit against the company for personal injury, claiming his kidneys were damaged by a spiker machine while he worked in Minidoka County.

Christopher S. Barrett filed the suit in April 2017.

Barrett’s lawsuit says he was operating a spiker machine Aug. 3, 2015, and the company failed to provide a safe work place, failed to provide reasonably safe equipment, failed to inspect, repair and maintain the equipment and had an insufficient crew to operate the spiker machine.

Barrett said he sustained permanent disability and injury to his kidneys because of the company’s negligence, and said “excessive vibration and jarring” caused the injury.

The suit was filed under the Federal Employees Liability Act, court documents said.

A five-day jury trial is set for June 13 in Minidoka County District Court.