Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to many toxic substances that are a result of their work. One such toxic substance is asbestos which was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Bladder cancer lawsuit play an important role in the country's transportation network, despite the fact that railroads have seen a decline in popularity in recent decades because of the increased use of cars. cancer lawsuits have been exposed to toxins for a long period of time, which can have a negative impact on their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers highlight that railway workers are usually at risk for developing lung diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos can be broken down into microscopic fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of lung tissue, which can result in a variety of serious respiratory diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
For instance one man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for more than 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings about potential hazards. Leukemia lawsuit claims he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particulates that impacted his lung.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic care for his injuries and illnesses. According to his lawsuit, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In certain cases the fumes can cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In the case of one machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust during work, his employer failed to provide adequate protection equipment. In the end, the man developed COPD and has to use oxygen tanks on a daily basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces like bus depots and garages, a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims increase due to exposure at work to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, or throat and cause short-term symptoms such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can also cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in the rail yard include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. These toxins are breathed in, and may cause chronic health problems like COPD or 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 may increase the risks of bladder cancer in both females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness claim, claiming that his exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with adequate safety equipment, which allowed him to inhale hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust creosote, and metal dusts found in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene and as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.
The problem with these toxins is that they are capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, which can cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD. union pacific railroad lawsuit causes shortness of breath and wheezing, coughing, and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses may be eligible for compensation under Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with a place of work that is reasonably safe.
However, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that they face in their work, yet they fail to protect their employees. This is what FELA was designed to hold them accountable for. If you suffer from medical conditions that are linked to your railroad career contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has successfully handled FELA cases successfully.