Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed a variety of toxic toxins due to their work. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is a hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can wreak havoc on the lung health of railroad workers. Our FELA attorneys assist those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Trains continue to play a crucial role in the nation’s freight network, even though railroads have lost their popularity in recent years because more people are choosing automobiles. Therefore, railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to various toxic substances that could affect their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers observe that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring that could lead to a variety of serious respiratory conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man diagnosed mesothelioma after 30 years of service for the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad claims to have knowingly let him work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings of potential dangers. union pacific railroad lawsuit claims he breathed in diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particulates, which impacted his lungs.
Moreover, Bladder cancer lawsuit says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgical, hospital, and therapeutic care for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad violated their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe work environment for their employees.
Diesel fumes
The exhaust fumes produced by diesel engines can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain instances these fumes could cause lung diseases like COPD. In the instance where a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust while working the company did not provide adequate protective equipment. The worker was diagnosed with COPD because of this and currently uses oxygen tanks throughout the day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces, such as bus depots and garages, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure at work to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Leukemia lawsuit can also cause short-term discomforts such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can also cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards are dust chemical, creosote, and dust. These toxic substances can be inhaled and can cause long-term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer for females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed an occupational illness claim recently, claiming that his long-term exposure at work to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in a myriad of compounds every day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as well as chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The problem with these toxins is that they are able to penetrate deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD. The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath wheezing, constant coughing and weight loss. In some instances, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. provides compensation for railroad workers suffering from respiratory diseases caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroads to provide their employees with an acceptable and secure place to work.
However it's not always the situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers associated with their work but they often fail to safeguard workers. FELA was created to hold railroads accountable for their actions. If you've developed an illness that is related to your railroad career, contact an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.