Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of their work railroad workers are exposed to various toxic substances. Asbestos, which was utilized in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one of these hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious damage to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a means of transportation in recent years as more people shift to cars, trains still play a significant role in the nation's network of freight. This is why railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxins that can influence their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers note that railway employees have often been at risk for developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a hazard that can be broken into tiny, thin fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause serious scarring of lung tissue, which could lead to a number of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For instance, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, but did not provide him with safety equipment or warnings about potential hazards. He claims that he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust powders, chemicals, dust and other particulates that affected his lungs.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgical, hospital and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad violated their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for its employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In certain instances, these fumes can cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the case of one worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust while working, his employer failed to provide adequate protective equipment. The worker suffered from COPD as a result and is now using oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces like bus depots and garages, a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards are dust chemical, creosote, and dust. These toxins can be breathed in and cause long-term problems like 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 could increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness claim claiming that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He claims his employer neglected to provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to inhale hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers, and other airborne irritants.
These toxins can get deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). Bladder cancer lawsuit is a chronic condition which causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing for a long time and weight loss, and in some instances, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to offer their employees a workplace that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately it's not always the situation. union pacific railroad lawsuit are aware of the dangers associated with their work, but they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their employees. FELA was established to hold railroad corporations accountable for their negligence. If you've been diagnosed with an illness that is related to your railroad work, consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled successfully FELA cases.