Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed a variety of toxic substances that are a result of their work. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one of these hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys assist those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Trains still play an important part in the country's freight network, despite the fact that railroads have lost their popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of cars. Therefore, railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could affect their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers note that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance which can be broken down into microscopically thin fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory ailments like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
A man diagnosed mesothelioma after thirty years of working for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in hazardous environments without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims that he breathed diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, as well as other particles, which affected 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 his lawsuit the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can affect the health of railroad workers. In certain cases, these fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case of one worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust at work, his employer failed to provide proper protective equipment. In the process, the man was diagnosed with COPD and has to use oxygen tanks daily.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is prevalent in workplaces such as garages and bus depots a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims are growing over exposure to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and cause short-term symptoms such as coughing or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards are dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxins can be breathed in and can cause long-term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definite carcinogen. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad worker filed an occupational health claim recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure at work to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that his employer did not provide him with the proper safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of substances on a regular basis. These toxic substances include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts sulfur dioxide, benzene, dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritants.
The issue with these poisons is that they're capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD. The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath, persistent coughing, wheezing and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroads to provide their employees with a reasonably safe place to work.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work, but they often fail to safeguard their workers. class action lawsuit against railroads was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their blunders. If you have developed an illness that is related to your railroad career, contact an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has handled successfully FELA cases.