Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of the work they do railroad workers are exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was utilized in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one such harmful substance.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can wreak havoc on the lungs of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline in terms of transportation in recent decades since more people are turning to automobiles, trains are a major component of the nation's transportation network. Therefore, Bladder cancer lawsuit have been exposed for a long time to various toxins that can influence their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers note that railway employees are frequently at risk of 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 lung tissue, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
For instance one man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. cancer lawsuit allowed him to work in hazardous conditions, without providing protection equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims he breathed diesel exhaust, creosote, dust, chemicals, powders and other particles that impacted his lungs.
Furthermore, the plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgical, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad violated their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for its employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain instances, these fumes may cause lung diseases such as COPD. In Leukemia lawsuit of a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work his employer failed to provide adequate protective equipment. The worker developed COPD because of this and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims grow over exposure to toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the eyes, nose or throat and cause short-term symptoms such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in certain rail yard environments include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. These toxic substances can be inhaled and can cause long-term problems such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health claim claiming that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He says that the company he worked for did not provide him with the proper safety equipment, which allowed him to inhale hundreds of compounds on a daily basis. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene, dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritating substances.
The issue with these toxic substances is that they are capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive lung disease commonly referred to as COPD. This chronic illness causes shortness-of-breath and wheezing, coughing, and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees 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. The law requires railroad companies to offer their employees an adequately safe environment to work.
Sadly, this isn’t always the however. Leukemia lawsuit are aware of the dangers that they face in their work, but they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their workers. This is the reason why FELA was created to make them accountable for. If you have an illness linked to your railroad career contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.