Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of the work they do, railroad workers can be exposed to numerous harmful toxins. One of them is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys assist those suffering from lung disease caused by railroads hold the companies accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a mode of transportation in recent decades as more people switch to automobiles, trains play a significant role in the nation's freight network. Railroad workers are exposed to toxins for a long period of time, which can have a negative impact on their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could cause a variety serious respiratory ailments, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma following 30 years of service for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed workers to work in dangerous environments, without providing him with safety equipment or warnings regarding potential dangers. He claims to have inhaled diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particulates, which impacted his lungs.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgical, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit the railroad has violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can be harmful to a railroad worker's health. In class action lawsuit against union pacific railroad can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case of a machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while working his employer did not provide adequate protection equipment. The man suffered from COPD as a result and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is common in workplaces like garages and bus depots, the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims are growing over exposure at work to toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and may cause temporary symptoms like coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to the diesel fumes and other pollutants, others that can be found in some rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins 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 definitive carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer in both females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed a claim for occupational illness recently, claiming that his long-term exposure at work to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals 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.
The issue with these poisons is that they're capable of getting deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, and eventually cause chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD. This is a chronic illness that causes shortness of breath as well as wheezing and coughing incessantly as well as weight loss and, in certain cases asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses that result from their work. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees with a safe workplace that is reasonably secure.
Sadly, this isn’t always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that they face in their work, yet they fail to safeguard their workers. FELA was established to hold railroads accountable for their negligence. If you've developed a medical condition that was caused by your railroad work, consult an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.