Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed many toxic toxins due to their work. One such toxic substance is asbestos which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can wreak havoc on the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a means of transportation in recent decades as more people shift to cars, trains still play a significant role in the nation's network of freight. Railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxic substances that could affect their health. Our Boston railroad worker asbestos lawyers have observed that railroad employees are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken down into microscopic fibers which can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring that can result in a number of serious respiratory conditions including mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestosis.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last 30 years of service for the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in dangerous conditions without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings about potential hazards. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes chemical fumes, dust, chemicals and powders, as well as other particulates, which impacted his lungs.
In addition, the man claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical, hospital, surgical and therapeutic treatment 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 fumes released by diesel engines can impact a railroad worker's health. In some instances, these fumes may cause lung ailments like COPD. In the case of a machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust at work His employer failed to provide proper protective equipment. In csx railroad lawsuit , the man developed COPD and has to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is prevalent in workplaces like bus depots and garages, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims grow over exposure to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can irritate the nose, eyes and throat, and can cause short-term symptoms, such as coughing or Phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes could cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards are dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxic substances can be inhaled and cause long-term issues such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risks of bladder cancer for both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed a claim for occupational illness recently, claiming that his long-term exposure at work to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that the company he worked for did not provide him with the proper safety equipment, which allowed him to inhale hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust creosote and metal dusts in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as along with chemical degreasers and dioxins.
These toxins can be absorbed into the lung tissue, where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disorder (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease that causes breathlessness as well as wheezing and coughing incessantly and weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related emphysema or other respiratory illnesses can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroads to offer their employees a reasonably safe place to work.
Sadly, this isn’t always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers associated with their work, but they fail to protect their workers. This negligence is what FELA was created to hold them accountable for. If you've been diagnosed with an illness that is related to your railroad experience, get in touch with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that has successfully handled FELA cases.