Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of toxic toxins that can harm them due to their work. One of them is asbestos which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can wreak havoc on the lung lungs of railroad employees. Our FELA attorneys assist those suffering from railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent decades as more people switch to automobiles, trains play a vital role in the nation's freight network. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxic substances for a long time, which can have a negative impact on their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers have observed that railroad employees are at risk of developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos is broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into lung. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory conditions including mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestosis.
For railroad controls limited lawsuit , a man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in dangerous conditions without providing proper protective equipment or warnings of possible dangers. He claims that he breathed creosote and diesel exhaust, powders, chemicals, dust and other particulates that affected his lung.
The plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with sufficient medical care, hospitalization, therapeutic and surgical treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In certain cases the fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In the event that an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust during work, his employer did not provide the proper protective equipment. In the end, the man developed COPD and has to use oxygen tanks on a daily basis.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is frequently found in workplaces like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" concerning exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains significant amounts of nitrogen oxides which are harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat, and can cause short-term symptoms, such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards include dust chemical, creosote, and dust. These toxic substances can be inhaled and can cause long-term problems such as COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer in men as well as women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational illness 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 appropriate safety equipment which allowed him to breathe in a myriad of compounds every day. These contaminants include diesel exhaust, fumes silica, creosote metal dusts, coal smoke, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritating substances.
The toxins can seep deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, eventually leading to chronic obstructive respiratory disease (also known as COPD). It is a chronic disease which causes breathlessness, persistent coughing and wheezing, weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. offers compensation for railroad employees suffering from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees a workplace that is reasonably safe.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, but they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their workers. FELA was established to hold railroad companies accountable for their blunders. If you suffer from an illness connected to your railroad career, contact a mesothelioma lawyer who has handled FELA cases successfully.