Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed numerous toxic substances that are a result of their work. One of these toxic substances is asbestos, which was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these toxic chemicals can wreck havoc on the lung health of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung diseases that are caused by railroads hold companies accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent years since more people are turning to automobiles, trains are a major component of the nation's freight network. Therefore, railroad workers have been exposed to various toxic substances that could affect their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers have observed that railroad employees are at risk of developing lung ailments such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos can be a deadly substance that can be broken into microscopically thin fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of the lung tissue, which could lead to a number of serious respiratory diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For example one man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, but did not provide him with protective equipment or warnings about possible hazards. cancer lawsuit claims to have inhaled diesel fumes or chemicals, dust or powders, in addition to other particulates, which impacted the lungs of his.
Furthermore, the plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgical, hospital and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his complaint, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes generated by diesel engines can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some instances the fumes can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the instance where an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust while working the company did not provide adequate protective equipment. The worker developed COPD as a result, and is now using oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims grow over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation of the nose, eyes, or throat and cause symptoms that last a few minutes, such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling Leukemia lawsuit may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants found in some rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins can be breathed in and can cause long-term problems such as COPD and lung cancer. union pacific railroad lawsuit for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as a carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for women and men.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed an occupational health claim 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 a myriad of compounds every day. These contaminants include diesel exhaust, fumes silica, creosote metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritants.
These toxins can be absorbed into lung tissue where they cause damage, which eventually leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic condition that causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing that is persistent and weight loss, and in some cases asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the however. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that come with their job, but they often fail to safeguard their workers. This negligence is what FELA was created to be accountable for. If you've developed a medical condition linked to your railroad work, consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled successfully FELA cases.