Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of their work, railroad workers can be exposed to a variety of toxic substances. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is a hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can wreak havoc on the lungs of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their negligent acts.
Asbestos
Although railroads have fallen out of favor as a transportation mode in recent years as more people shift to automobiles, trains play a significant role in the nation's transportation network. This is why railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could influence their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos can be broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can result in a number of serious respiratory illnesses like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after 30 years of working for the railroad and filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad let him work in hazardous environments without providing proper protective equipment or warnings about possible dangers. He claims that he breathed diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particulates, which affected his lungs.
This 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 the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for its employees.
union pacific railroad lawsuit fumes
The fumes generated by diesel engines can affect a railroad worker's health. In certain cases they can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case of one machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust at work His employer failed to provide proper protective equipment. In the end, the man developed COPD and now needs to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims are growing over exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can irritate the eyes, nose or throat and cause short-term symptoms such as a cough or Phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In union pacific railroad lawsuit to the diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxins can be inhaled and can cause long-term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as carcinogens. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risks of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
cancer lawsuit filed an occupational health claim recently, claiming that his long-term exposure at work to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with appropriate safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritating substances.
These toxins can get deep into lung tissue and cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD). The chronic illness can cause shortness of breath and wheezing, coughing, and weight loss. In some cases it may also trigger asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from respiratory ailments caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with an adequately safe environment to work.
Unfortunately this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, but they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their workers. FELA was created to hold railroads accountable for their blunders. If you have developed an illness that is related to your railroad work, you should contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled successfully FELA cases.