Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of the work they perform, railroad workers can be exposed to harmful toxins. One of these toxic substances is asbestos, which was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Trains are still a vital role in the country's transportation network, even though railroads have been losing popularity in recent decades because of the increased use of cars. union pacific railroad lawsuit are exposed to toxins for a long time which can adversely affect their health. Particularly union pacific railroad lawsuit at our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers note that railway employees are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into lung. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could cause a variety of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For instance a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims the railroad knew about it and let him work in hazardous environments without providing him with adequate protective equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims he breathed creosote and diesel exhaust, powders, chemicals, dust and other particulates that impacted his lung.
The plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical care, hospitalization surgical, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In certain instances the fumes can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case of a machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust during work the employer did not provide proper protective equipment. In cancer lawsuit , the man developed COPD and is required to use oxygen tanks on a daily basis.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is often found in places of work like bus depots and garages, there are "growing legal claims" over exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain significant amounts of nitrogen oxides which are harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards are dust chemicals, creosote, and dust. These toxins can be inhaled and cause long-term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definitive carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risks of bladder cancer for both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed an occupational health claim recently, claiming that his continuous exposure to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that the company he worked for did not provide him with proper safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust, creosote, and metal dusts found in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.
The issue with these toxic substances is that they are capable of getting deep into the lung tissue, which causes damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD. The chronic illness can cause shortness of breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with a workplace that is reasonably safe.
However, union pacific railroad lawsuit 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 railroads accountable for their mistakes. If you've been diagnosed with an illness that is related to your railroad experience, get in touch with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.