Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they perform, railroad workers can be exposed to toxic substances. One of them is asbestos that was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious harm to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a means of transportation in recent years as more people turn to cars, trains still are a major component of the nation's transportation network. Therefore, railroad employees have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could influence their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers have observed that railroad employees are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can be broken down into microscopically thin fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could result in a variety of serious respiratory ailments, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He alleges the railroad knowingly allowed him to work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims that he breathed diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particles, which affected the lungs of his.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with sufficient medical treatment, hospitalization, therapy, and surgical care for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe working environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can have a negative impact on a railroad worker's health. In some instances these fumes could lead to lung disease such as COPD. In the case of a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust during work, his employer did not provide the proper protective equipment. In the end, the man developed COPD and is now required to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces such as bus depots and garages, a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards include dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxic substances are inhaled and may cause long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified exhausts from diesel engines as carcinogens. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risks of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with appropriate safety equipment, which allowed him to inhale hundreds of compounds on a daily basis. railroad controls limited lawsuit include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritants.
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 which is also known as COPD. This chronic condition causes shortness of breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In some instances, it can also cause 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 railroad companies to provide their employees with a workplace that is reasonably safe.
However this isn't always situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work but they often fail to safeguard their workers. This is what FELA was designed to hold them accountable for. If you have medical conditions that are related to your railroad experience, contact a mesothelioma lawyer who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.