cancer lawsuits - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of the work they do railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances. One of the most toxic substances is asbestos that was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains continue to play a crucial part in the country's freight network, even though railroads have waned in popularity in recent years due to more people choosing cars. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxins for a long time which can adversely affect their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers highlight that railway workers have often been at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be a deadly substance that can break down into microscopically thin fibers that can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious scarring of lung tissue, which could result in a variety of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A man diagnosed mesothelioma after 30 years of employment with the railroad and filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad let him work in hazardous conditions without providing proper protective equipment or warnings about potential hazards. He claims he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particles that impacted his lung.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical treatment, hospitalization, therapeutic and surgical treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe working environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can be harmful to the health of railroad workers. In certain cases these fumes could cause lung ailments like COPD. In the event that a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust during work, his employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. The man developed COPD and now needs to use oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is commonly found at workplaces such as bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains high levels nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards include dust chemicals, creosote, and dust. These pollutants are inhaled and can lead to long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as a carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risks of bladder cancer, both for women and men.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational disease claim claiming that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. He claims his employer did not provide him with appropriate safety equipment, allowing him to inhale hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxic substances include diesel fumes, exhaust, silica dust creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, 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 lead to chronic obstructive lung disease commonly referred to as COPD. The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In certain instances, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation to railroad workers who suffer from respiratory diseases caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees with a safe place of work that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the however. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks that come with their job but they often fail to safeguard workers. FELA was established to hold railroad corporations accountable for their actions. If you have an illness that is associated with your railroad work, consult a mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases successfully.