Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they do railroad workers are exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such toxic substance.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of lung diseases that affect railroad workers and hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains still play an important role in the country's transportation network, even though railroads have waned in popularity in recent years because of the increased use of automobiles. Railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances for a long time which can adversely affect their health. Specifically the lawyers at our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a hazardous substance that can break into tiny fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that can cause a variety of serious respiratory conditions, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For instance, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing adequate protective equipment or warnings about potential hazards. He claims he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust, dust, chemicals, powders and other particulates that affected his lungs.
This man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization, therapeutic and surgical 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 fumes can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In class action lawsuit against norfolk southern railroad could lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case of one machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust while working, his employer failed to provide the proper protection equipment. The worker developed COPD as a result, and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is common in workplaces like garages and bus depots, a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims grow over exposure to toxic diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can irritate the nose, eyes and throat, and can cause short-term symptoms, such as a cough or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards include dust and chemicals, as well as creosote. These pollutants are inhaled and may cause chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a confirmed carcinogen. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with appropriate safety equipment which allowed him to breathe in a myriad of compounds every day. These toxic substances include diesel fumes, exhaust, silica dust, creosote and metal dusts that are found in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as along with chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The problem with these toxins is that they are capable of getting deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive lung disease, also known as COPD. This is a chronic illness that causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing for a long time weight loss, and in some cases, asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory illnesses such as emphysema, asthma, or other 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 safe.
However, this isn't always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that they face in their work, yet they don't take precautions to protect their workers. This is what FELA was created to ensure they are accountable for. If you've suffered from an illness related to your railroad experience, get in touch with an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.