Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed various toxic toxins due to their work. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one of these hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung disease caused by railroads hold the companies accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains are still a vital role in the nation’s freight network, despite the fact that railroads have lost their popularity in recent years because of the increased use of cars. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxic substances for a long time, which can negatively affect their health. Specifically our Boston railroad worker asbestos exposure lawyers have noted that railway workers are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which can lead to a number of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after thirty years of working for the railroad and filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims the railroad knew about it and let him work in hazardous environments without providing proper protective equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims he inhaled diesel exhaust, creosote, dust, chemicals, powders and other particulates that impacted his lung.
In addition, the man claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic care for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In railroad lawsuit settlements , these fumes can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case of one machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust while at work His employer failed to provide the appropriate protective equipment. The worker developed COPD due to this exposure and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is typically found in workplaces like bus depots or garages, there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and may cause temporary symptoms like coughing or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Other contaminants that are found in rail yards are dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxins can be inhaled and cause long-term problems such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as a carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational health claim claiming that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with appropriate safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in a myriad of compounds every day. These toxic substances include diesel fumes, exhaust, silica dust creosote and metal dusts in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as well as chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The problem with these poisons is that they're capable of piercing deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD. This is a chronic condition which causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing for a long time as well as weight loss and, in some cases, asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroad companies to offer their employees an adequate and safe place to work.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that are inherent to their work, but they often fail to safeguard their workers. FELA was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their blunders. If you have developed an illness related to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled successfully FELA cases.