Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed many toxic substances that are a result of their work. One such toxic substance is asbestos which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of lung diseases that affect railroad workers and hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Trains are still a vital part in the country's freight network, even though railroads have waned in popularity in recent decades because of the increased use of automobiles. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxins for a lengthy period of time which could negatively impact their health. Particularly, our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers point out that railroad workers are usually at risk for developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is broken into tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lung. Leukemia lawsuit can cause severe scarring of lung tissue, which could cause a variety serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
For example a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in hazardous environments without supplying him with appropriate protective equipment or warnings about possible hazards. He alleges that he inhaled creosote and diesel exhaust, dust, chemicals, powders and other particulates that affected his lungs.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment 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 their employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some cases they can lead to lung disease such as COPD. In the case of a worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust while working his employer did not provide proper protective equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD as a result, and is now using oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is commonly found at places of work like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains high levels nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also trigger temporary symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that are found in rail yards include dust chemicals, creosote, and dust. These toxic substances can be inhaled and can cause long-term issues such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as carcinogens. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer for both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed a claim for occupational illness recently, claiming that his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He says that his employer did not provide him with appropriate safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of compounds on a daily basis. These toxic substances include diesel fumes, exhaust, silica dust, creosote and metal dusts in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as along with chemical degreasers and dioxins.
These toxins can get deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, which can eventually lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath wheezing, constant coughing and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses can be compensated 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 secure.
Sadly, union pacific railroad lawsuit isn’t always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that they face in their work, yet they don't take precautions to protect their workers. Leukemia lawsuit is the reason why FELA was created to make them accountable for. If you suffer from an illness connected to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.