Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of the work they perform, railroad workers can be exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Leukemia lawsuit , which was utilized in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such toxic substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can wreak havoc on the lung health of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations responsible for their negligent actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a means of transportation in recent years as more people switch to automobiles, trains play a vital role in the country's freight system. Railroad workers are exposed to toxins for a long time which can negatively affect their health. Specifically the lawyers at our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers highlight that railway workers have often been at risk for developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken down into microscopic fibers which can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of the lung tissue, which can lead to a number of serious respiratory ailments, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma following thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, but did not provide him with protective equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, in addition to other particulates, which affected the lungs of his.
In addition, the man claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical, hospital, surgical and therapeutic care for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
The diesel fumes that are produced by engines can have a negative impact on a railroad worker's health. In Leukemia lawsuit can cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In the instance where an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust during work the company did not provide the proper protective equipment. The man suffered from COPD as a result, and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian 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 are harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes or throat and cause symptoms that last a few minutes, such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest pain and wheezing.
Other contaminants that can be found in rail yards include dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxins are inhaled, and could 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 warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health claim claiming that his exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust, creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.
These toxins can get deep into lung tissue and cause damage, eventually leading to chronic obstructive lung disease (also known as COPD). This chronic illness causes shortness-of-breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In certain instances, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from emphysema and other respiratory diseases caused by their work. 51. Bladder cancer lawsuit requires railroads to offer their employees an adequate and safe place to work.
However, this isn't always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that they face in their work, but they fail to protect their workers. FELA was created to hold railroads accountable for their blunders. If you've suffered from a medical condition linked to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has handled successfully FELA cases.