Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they do, railroad workers can be exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such harmful substance.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys help victims of lung disease caused by railroads hold the companies accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Trains continue to play a crucial part in the country's freight network, even though railroads have lost their popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of cars. Therefore, blacklands railroad lawsuit have been exposed for a long time to various toxins that can impact 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 is a dangerous substance which can be broken into tiny fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after thirty years of working for the railroad and filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, without providing him with safety equipment or warnings regarding potential hazards. He claims he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust, dust, chemicals, and other particulates that impacted his lungs.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical care, hospitalization, surgical, and therapeutic treatment 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 its employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain cases they can cause lung ailments like COPD. In the instance where an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust during work the employer did not provide adequate protection equipment. In the process, the man was diagnosed with COPD and now needs to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and cause short-term symptoms, such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In addition to the diesel fumes, other contaminants found in certain rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxic substances can be inhaled and cause long-term problems such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a confirmed carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health claim claiming that his exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These contaminants include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust, creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.
These toxins can get deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, which can eventually lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic condition which causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing that is persistent, weight loss, and in certain instances asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other can receive compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroads to provide their employees with an adequate and safe place to work.
Sadly, this isn’t always the situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks that are inherent to their work, but they often fail to safeguard workers. FELA was established to hold railroad companies accountable for their negligence. If you suffer from an illness that is associated with your railroad work, consult a mesothelioma lawyer who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.