Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to various harmful toxins as a result their work. One of the most toxic substances is asbestos that was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can be destructive to the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent decades as more people shift to cars, trains still play a significant role in the country's freight system. Railroad workers have been exposed to a variety of toxins that could influence their health. Specifically, our Boston railroad worker asbestos exposure lawyers point out that railroad workers are often at risk of developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a hazard that can break into tiny fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory conditions, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after 30 years of working for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims that the railroad let him work in hazardous environments without providing proper protective equipment or warnings about potential hazards. He alleges that he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, dust, chemicals, powders and other particulates that affected his lungs.
This man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization therapy, and surgical care for his injuries and illnesses. According to his lawsuit the railroad has violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty 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 certain cases these fumes could lead to lung disease such as COPD. In the case of a worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust at work the employer did not provide proper protective equipment. In the end, the man was diagnosed with COPD and is required to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is commonly found at places of work like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains high levels of nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to people. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the eyes, nose or throat and cause short-term symptoms, such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In class action lawsuit against railroads to the diesel fumes, other pollutants found in certain rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins can be inhaled and cause long-term issues like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definite carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in both women and men.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claims that his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with proper safety equipment which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These toxic substances include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote metal dusts, coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene, chemical degreasers, dioxins and other airborne irritating substances.
These toxins can be absorbed into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, which eventually leads to chronic obstructive respiratory disorder (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease that can cause shortness of breath, persistent coughing and wheezing weight loss, and in certain instances, asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. The law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with an adequately safe environment to work.
However, this isn't always the case. Railroad corporations are well aware of the dangers associated with their work however, they are often unable to protect workers. FELA was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their actions. If you have an illness connected to your railroad career, seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.