Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of toxic substances that are a result of their work. Leukemia lawsuit is asbestos that was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung diseases that affect railroad workers and hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a means of transportation in recent decades since more people are turning to automobiles, trains play a vital role in the nation's network of freight. This is why railroad workers have long been exposed to a myriad of toxic substances that can impact their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases like asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos can be a deadly substance which can be broken into microscopically thin fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe scarring of the lung tissue, which can result in a variety of serious respiratory conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For instance one man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad allowed him to work in dangerous environments, without providing protection equipment or warnings regarding potential dangers. He alleges that he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particulates that impacted his lung.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with sufficient medical treatment, hospitalization, medical and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The diesel fumes that are produced by engines can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some cases these fumes could cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In Pancreatic cancer lawsuit of a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust while working his employer failed to provide adequate protective equipment. The worker developed COPD due to this exposure and currently uses oxygen tanks throughout the day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is often found in workplaces such as bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" over exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. railroad cancer lawsuit can also trigger short-term discomforts such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. Pancreatic cancer lawsuit are inhaled, and could cause chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definite carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust could increase the risks of bladder cancer for females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claims that his long-term exposure at work to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote coal smoke, metal dusts sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers, and other airborne irritating substances.
The toxins can seep deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, which eventually leads to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease that causes shortness of breath wheezing and coughing for a long time, weight loss, and in some instances, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. provides compensation to railroad workers who suffer from respiratory illnesses that result from their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with a safe workplace that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the however. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that they face in their work, yet they fail to safeguard their workers. This negligence is what FELA was created to ensure they are accountable for. If you suffer from an illness that is related to your railroad experience, seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.