Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they do railroad workers are exposed to numerous harmful toxins. Asbestos, which was used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is a hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
While railroads have lost favor as a transportation mode in recent decades as more people switch to cars, trains still have a crucial role to play in the nation's transportation network. Therefore, railroad workers have long been exposed to a variety of toxins that could influence their health. Our Boston asbestos lawyers for railroad workers recognize that railroad workers are at risk of developing lung diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos is broken into tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could lead to a number of serious respiratory ailments, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
For example, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments, but did not provide the necessary protective equipment or warnings about possible hazards. He claims that he inhaled diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particles that impacted his lungs.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad breached its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes generated by diesel engines can affect the health of railroad workers. In some cases they can lead to lung disease like COPD. In the case where a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust during work the employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. In the end, the man was diagnosed with COPD and is now required to use oxygen tanks daily.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is typically found in places of work like bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" regarding exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains significant amounts of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. They can also cause short-term discomforts such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In lung cancer lawsuit from smoking to diesel fumes, other contaminants found in some rail yard environments include chemicals, creosote dust and powders. These pollutants are inhaled and could 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 certain carcinogen. acute myeloid leukemia lawsuit warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer in both females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor filed an occupational health claim recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure at work to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims his employer failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust, creosote, and metal dusts found in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as in chemical degreasers as well as dioxins.
These toxins can penetrate deep into lung tissue and cause damage, which can eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic illness which causes breathlessness, persistent coughing and wheezing as well as weight loss and, in certain instances, asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. offers compensation for railroad workers suffering from respiratory ailments caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably secure.
Sadly, this isn’t always the however. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, but they fail to safeguard their employees. pulmonary fibrosis lawsuit is what FELA was designed to make them accountable for. If you have developed an illness that is related to your railroad experience, get in touch with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that has successfully handled FELA cases.