Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of their work, railroad workers can be exposed to various harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was utilized in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one such harmful substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys assist those suffering from lung diseases that are caused by railroads hold companies accountable for their negligent acts.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a transportation mode in recent years since more people are turning to automobiles, trains play a significant role in the country's freight system. Therefore, railroad employees have long been exposed to various toxins that can influence their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers note that railway employees are often at risk for developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that can lead a number serious respiratory conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last 30 years of employment with the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He alleges the railroad knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims that he inhaled diesel fumes or chemicals, dust or powders, along with other particles that affected the lungs of his.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgical, hospital and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad violated their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe work environment for its employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain cases they can cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the event that a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust while at work, his employer did not provide adequate protection equipment. In the end, the man developed COPD and is now required to use oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is prevalent in workplaces like 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 exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat and cause symptoms that last a few minutes, such as coughing or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards include dust, chemicals, and creosote. These pollutants are inhaled and could cause chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as a carcinogen. lawsuits against union pacific railroad warns that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer among men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational health claim claiming that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He says that his employer failed to provide him with adequate safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These poisons include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote metal dusts, coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene chemical degreasers, dioxins and other airborne irritating substances.
These toxins can get deep into lung tissue where they cause damage, which eventually leads to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). The chronic illness can cause shortness of breath and wheezing, coughing, and weight loss. In some instances, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. offers compensation for railroad workers suffering from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroads to offer their employees an adequate and safe place to work.
However, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that come with their job However, they fail to safeguard their workers. This is what FELA was created to be accountable for. If you've suffered from a medical condition that was caused by your railroad work, you should contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.