Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of their work, railroad workers can be exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can wreak havoc on the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations responsible for their negligent actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have fallen out of favor in terms of transportation in recent years as more people turn to cars, trains still play a vital role in the nation's freight network. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxic substances for a long time, which can adversely affect their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers highlight that railway workers are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that could lead to a variety of serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last 30 years of working for the railroad and filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing him with appropriate safety equipment or warnings about possible hazards. 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 the proper 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 and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes generated by diesel engines can impact a railroad worker's health. In some instances the fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case where a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust during work his employer failed to provide adequate protection equipment. The worker developed COPD due to this exposure and currently uses oxygen tanks throughout the day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces such as garages and bus depots, the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims increase due to exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Bladder cancer lawsuit can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards are dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxins are inhaled, and could cause long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer for both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health claim claiming that his exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with the appropriate safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene, chemical degreasers, dioxins and other airborne irritants.
The toxins can seep deep into lung tissue and cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive lung disease (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease which causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing that is persistent weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema may be eligible for compensation under Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees with a place of work that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the reality. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work However, they fail to safeguard workers. This negligence is what FELA was designed to make them accountable for. If you've been diagnosed with a medical condition linked to your railroad experience, get in touch with an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has successfully handled FELA cases.