Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to their work, railroad workers can be exposed to harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was utilized in older train cars to line and insulate them, is a harmful substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations responsible for their negligent actions.
Asbestos
While railroads have lost favor as a means of transportation in recent decades as more people shift to cars, trains still have a crucial role to play in the country's freight system. Therefore, railroad workers have been exposed to a myriad of toxic substances that can influence their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers have observed that railroad employees are at risk of developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos is a hazard which can be broken into tiny, thin fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory conditions, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For instance one man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, but not providing the necessary protective equipment or warnings about possible hazards. He claims he breathed diesel exhaust, creosote, powders, chemicals, dust and other particulates that affected his lung.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical, hospital, surgical and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some instances, these fumes can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the instance where a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust during work his employer failed to provide the proper protective equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD and is required to use oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards include dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxins can be inhaled and cause long-term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as a carcinogen. union pacific railroad lawsuit warns that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer among men and women.
Smoking
A railroad worker filed a claim for occupational illness recently, claiming that his long-term exposure to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims his employer did not provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to inhale hundreds of compounds on a daily basis. These contaminants include diesel exhaust, fumes silica, creosote coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritating substances.
The problem with these toxic substances is that they are able to penetrate deep into the lung tissue which causes damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive-pulmonary disease which is also known as COPD. It is a chronic disease that causes shortness of breath wheezing and coughing that is persistent as well as weight loss and, in some cases, asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related respiratory illnesses such as emphysema, asthma, or other may be eligible for compensation under 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.
However, this isn't always the case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers they face in their job, but they often fail to protect workers. This is the reason why FELA was created to ensure they are accountable for. If you have an illness connected to your railroad career, contact a mesothelioma lawyer who has handled FELA cases successfully.