Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed numerous 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 toxic substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have fallen out of favor as a means of transportation in recent decades as more people shift to cars, trains still are a major component of the nation's freight network. Railroad workers are exposed to toxins for a long time which can have a negative impact on their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers note that railway employees are usually at risk of developing lung diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that is able to break into tiny fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that can result in a number of serious respiratory ailments like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
For example, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working 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 protection equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, as well as other particles, which impacted the lungs of his.
The plaintiff claims that Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with sufficient medical care, hospitalization surgical, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
The diesel fumes that are produced by engines can impact a railroad worker's health. In some cases these fumes could cause lung ailments like COPD. In the case of one machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work His employer failed to provide adequate protection equipment. The man suffered from COPD due to this exposure and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is common in workplaces like garages and bus depots, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes, or throat and cause temporary symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In railroad lawsuit settlements to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in certain rail yard environments include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. These toxic substances can be inhaled and can cause long-term issues like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as carcinogens. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer for both women and men.
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. The claimant claims that his employer neglected to provide him with appropriate safety equipment, allowing him to inhale hundreds of chemicals 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 issue with these poisons is that they're capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly referred to as COPD. This is a chronic illness that causes shortness of breath as well as wheezing and coughing incessantly weight loss, and in some cases, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. offers compensation for railroad workers suffering from respiratory illnesses caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to offer their employees an acceptable and secure place to work.
However this isn't always case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks that are inherent to their work however, they are often unable to protect workers. This is the reason why FELA was created to hold them accountable for. If you've been diagnosed with a medical condition that was caused by your railroad work, consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.