Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to their work railroad workers are exposed to a variety of harmful toxins. One of them is asbestos which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous chemicals can wreck havoc on the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations responsible for their negligent actions.
Asbestos
Trains play a significant role in the nation’s freight network, despite the fact that railroads have been losing popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of automobiles. This is why railroad workers have been exposed to various toxins that can impact their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung ailments such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into lung. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma, after thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He alleges the railroad knowingly let him work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings about potential dangers. He claims that he breathed diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, as well as other particles, which affected his lungs.
cancer lawsuit claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical treatment, hospitalization, therapeutic and surgical treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some cases the fumes can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the event that a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work the company did not provide the proper protective equipment. In the end, the man was diagnosed with COPD and is now required to use oxygen tanks daily.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is often found in workplaces like bus depots or garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and can cause short-term symptoms, such as a cough or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards include dust chemical, creosote, and dust. cancer lawsuit can be inhaled and lead to long term issues such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that the company he worked for did not provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of compounds on a daily basis. These toxic substances include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene, dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritants.
These toxins can be absorbed into lung tissue where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disorder (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease that can cause shortness of breath wheezing and coughing that is persistent as well as weight loss and, in certain cases asthma.
Bladder cancer lawsuit 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 railroads to offer their employees a reasonably safe place to work.
Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks that are inherent to their work, but they often fail to safeguard workers. This is what FELA was designed to be accountable for. If you have medical conditions that are related to your railroad experience, consult a mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases successfully.