Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they perform railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances. Asbestos, which was utilized in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Trains continue to play a crucial role in the country's transportation network, despite the fact that railroads have lost their popularity in recent years due to more people choosing automobiles. Railroad workers are exposed to toxins for a lengthy period of time which could negatively impact their health. Particularly our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are usually at risk for developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into the lung. Railroad Cancer Lawsuit Settlements can cause serious scarring of lung tissue, which can lead to a number of serious respiratory ailments, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma, after 30 years of employment with the railroad, has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous environments without supplying him with adequate protective equipment or warnings of possible hazards. He claims he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particulates that affected his lungs.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical, hospital, surgical and therapeutic care for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe work environment for its employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can have a negative impact on a railroad worker's health. In certain instances the fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case of a machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust during work His employer failed to provide proper protective equipment. The worker was diagnosed with COPD due to this exposure and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is frequently found in workplaces like bus depots or garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains large amounts of nitrogen oxides which are harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, or throat and cause short-term symptoms such as a cough or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest pain and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in some rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins are breathed in, and could cause long-term health issues such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed a claim for occupational illness recently, claiming that his continuous exposure to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust creosote and metal dusts that are found in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene and as well as chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The issue with these toxic substances is that they are capable of piercing deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive lung disease commonly referred to as COPD. This is a chronic condition that can cause shortness of breath as well as wheezing and coughing incessantly weight loss, and in some cases asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies offer their employees a workplace that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately it's not always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that are inherent to their work however, they are often unable to protect workers. FELA was created to hold railroad companies accountable for their blunders. If you suffer from an illness related to your railroad experience, seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has successfully handled FELA cases successfully.