Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed various toxic toxins due to their work. One of these toxic substances is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can cause havoc to the lung health of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung diseases that affect railroad workers and hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a transportation mode in recent decades since more people are turning to cars, trains still play a vital role in the nation's freight network. Railroad employees have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could impact their health. Specifically, our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are usually at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into lungs. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring, which can result in a number of serious respiratory conditions like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For example a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous conditions, without providing protection equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims that he inhaled diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particles that impacted his lungs.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical treatment, hospitalization, surgical, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for employees.
Diesel fumes
The diesel fumes that are produced by engines can impact the health of railroad workers. In certain instances they can cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the case of a worker who was exposed diesel exhaust while working, his employer failed to provide the proper protective equipment. The man suffered from COPD because of this and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
bnsf lawsuit reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is often found in workplaces such as bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" concerning exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to people. Kidney cancer lawsuit can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and may cause symptoms that last a few minutes, such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that are found in rail yards are dust chemicals, creosote, and dust. These toxins are inhaled, and may cause long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as carcinogens. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad worker filed an occupational illness claim recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with the proper safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These contaminants include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust creosote, and metal dusts found in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as along with chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The issue with these poisons is that they're capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage, and eventually lead to chronic obstructive lung disease which is also known as COPD. The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath wheezing, constant coughing and weight loss. In certain cases, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. offers compensation to railroad workers who suffer from emphysema and other respiratory diseases caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees with a safe place of work that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, but they fail to protect their employees. bnsf lawsuit was created to hold railroads accountable for their actions. If you suffer from an illness connected to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.