Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Because of the work they perform, railroad workers can be exposed to a variety of harmful toxins. One of the most toxic substances is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, union pacific railroad lawsuit can wreck havoc on the lung health of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Trains still play an important part in the country's freight network, despite the fact that railroads have seen a decline in popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of cars. This is why railroad employees have long been exposed to various toxins that can impact their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers observe that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can be broken into microscopically thin fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious scarring of lung tissue, which could cause a variety of serious respiratory diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
For example one man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad claims to have knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims he breathed creosote and diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particulates that impacted his lungs.
The plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization, surgical, 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 working environment for their employees.
union pacific railroad lawsuit can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain cases these fumes could cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the case where the machinist was exposed diesel exhaust while at work the employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. As a result, the man developed COPD and has to use oxygen tanks daily.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is frequently found in workplaces such as bus depots and garages, there are "growing legal claims" over exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain high levels nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can also cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to the diesel fumes and other pollutants, others that can be found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxic substances are inhaled and could cause long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definitive carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claims that his long-term exposure at work to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. union pacific railroad lawsuit claims that his employer failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxins include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust, creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as along with chemical degreasers and dioxins.
The problem with these toxic substances is that they are capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, which can cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder which is also known as COPD. This is a chronic illness that can cause shortness of breath wheezing and coughing for a long time as well as weight loss and, in certain cases, asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema can receive compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with a safe workplace that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers associated with their work, but they don't take precautions to protect their workers. This is the reason why FELA was designed to hold them accountable for. If you have medical conditions that are linked to your railroad career seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.