Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of toxic toxins that can harm them due to their work. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is a toxic substance.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of lung diseases that affect railroad workers and hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains play a significant role in the nation’s freight network, even though railroads have waned in popularity in recent years because more people are choosing cars. Therefore, railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could affect their health. Specifically union pacific railroad lawsuit for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are often at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into lungs. These fibers can cause severe scarring of lung tissue, which can result in a variety of serious respiratory ailments, including asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma following thirty years of working for the railroad, has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed workers to work in dangerous conditions, without providing protection equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, dust, chemicals, powders and other particles that impacted his lung.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his complaint the railroad has violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In some cases, these fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In cancer lawsuit of a worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust at work his employer did not provide the proper protective equipment. As a result, the man developed COPD and has to use oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is typically found in workplaces like bus depots and garages, there are "growing legal claims" regarding exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can also cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in the rail yard include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. These toxic substances can be inhaled and cause long-term issues like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as carcinogens. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer among men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational disease claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused 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 compounds each day. These poisons include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritating substances.
The toxins can seep deep into lung tissue where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). Leukemia lawsuit can cause shortness of breath, persistent coughing, wheezing and weight loss. In certain instances, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees with a place of work that is reasonably secure.
Sadly, this isn’t always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, yet they don't take precautions to protect their workers. FELA was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their actions. If you have a medical condition that is associated with your railroad work, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.