Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to various harmful toxins as a result their work. One such toxic substance is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can wreak havoc on the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA attorneys help victims of railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Trains still play an important part in the country's freight network, even though railroads have lost their popularity in recent years due to more people choosing automobiles. Railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to a myriad of toxic substances that can affect 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 mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos is broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory ailments, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man diagnosed mesothelioma after thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous environments, but did not provide him with protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims that he breathed creosote, diesel exhaust chemicals, dust, powders and other particles that impacted his lungs.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgical, hospital, and therapeutic care for his injuries and ailments. 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 be harmful to a railroad worker's health. In certain instances, these fumes may cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In the case of one machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while working, his employer failed to provide the proper protection equipment. The man developed COPD and has to use oxygen tanks on a daily basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces such as garages and bus depots a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims are growing over exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms like a cough or phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest pain and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in some rail yard environments include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxins are inhaled, and may cause long-term health issues such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a confirmed carcinogen. Interstitial lung disease lawsuit warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer among men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed an occupational illness claim recently, claiming that his long-term exposure to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with proper safety equipment, allowing him to inhale hundreds of substances on a regular basis. Interstitial lung disease lawsuit include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritants.
The problem with these contaminants is that they're capable of piercing deep into the lung tissue, which can cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly referred to as COPD. Interstitial lung disease lawsuit is a chronic disease that causes shortness of breath wheezing and coughing that is persistent as well as weight loss and, in certain cases, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad workers suffering from respiratory ailments caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees with a place of work that is reasonably secure.
However this isn't always the situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work however, they are often unable to safeguard workers. This negligence is what FELA was designed to hold them accountable for. If you have an illness that is related to your railroad experience, consult a mesothelioma lawyer who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.