Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of their work railroad workers are exposed to various toxic substances. Asbestos which was used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one such toxic substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations responsible for their negligent actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent decades as more people shift to automobiles, trains are a major component of the nation's transportation network. Railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances for a long time, which can adversely affect their health. Particularly the lawyers at our Boston railroad worker asbestos exposure lawyers highlight that railway workers are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a hazard which can be broken into tiny, thin fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of lung tissue, which could cause a variety of serious respiratory ailments, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad claims to have knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, as well as other particulates that impacted his lungs.
This man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical treatment, hospitalization, medical and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe work environment for their employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can be harmful to the health of railroad workers. In some cases, these fumes may cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case of a machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work, his employer failed to provide the proper protective equipment. In the process, the man was diagnosed with COPD and has to use oxygen tanks on a daily basis.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is typically found in places of work like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" over exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains large amounts of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. They can also trigger temporary symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards are dust chemical, creosote, and dust. class action lawsuit against railroads 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 definitive carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer for men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed a claim for occupational illness 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 proper safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxins include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust, creosote and metal dusts that are found in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as well as chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The problem with these toxic substances is that they are capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue which causes damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, also known as COPD. This is a chronic condition that can cause shortness of breath wheezing and coughing for a long time, weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses may be eligible for compensation under Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably safe.
Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work, but they often fail to protect workers. This negligence is what FELA was created to ensure they are accountable for. If you've developed a medical condition linked to your railroad work, consult an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has handled successfully FELA cases.