Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed various toxic toxins due to their work. One such toxic substance is asbestos, which was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent years since more people are turning to cars, trains still play a vital role in the nation's freight network. Railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances for a long time, which could negatively impact their health. Specifically the lawyers at our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are usually 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 illnesses including mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestosis.
For example, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working 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 environments without providing him with adequate protective equipment or warnings about potential dangers. He alleges that he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust dust, chemicals, and other particulates that affected his lung.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical, hospital, surgical 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 employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can be harmful to the health of railroad workers. In some cases these fumes could cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the case of one worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust during work his employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD as a result and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is common in workplaces such as garages and bus depots the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims increase due to exposure to toxic diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can irritate the nose, eyes, or throat and cause temporary symptoms like coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to the diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in the rail yard include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxic substances are inhaled and may cause long-term issues like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a confirmed carcinogen. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer among men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed an occupational health claim recently, claiming that his continuous exposure at work to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims his employer failed to provide him with adequate safety equipment, which allowed him to inhale hundreds of substances on a regular basis. These poisons include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene, chemical degreasers, dioxins and other airborne irritants.
These toxins can penetrate deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic condition that causes shortness of breath as well as wheezing and coughing incessantly weight loss, and in some instances asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. railroad lawsuit settlements requires that railroad companies offer their employees a place of work that is reasonably safe.
However, this isn't always the situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work however, they are often unable to safeguard workers. FELA was created to hold railroad companies accountable for their negligence. If you've been diagnosed with an illness that is related to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that has handled successfully FELA cases.