Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to various toxic substances that are a result of their work. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one of these hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these toxic substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a means of transportation in recent years as more people shift to cars, trains still play a vital role in the nation's transportation network. Therefore, railroad workers have long been exposed to various toxic substances 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 asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous substance which can be broken into tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
For instance, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for more than 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad allowed him to work in hazardous environments without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings about possible dangers. He claims to have inhaled diesel fumes or chemicals, dust or powders, along with other particles that impacted his lungs.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine fumes can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some instances, these fumes may cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the event that an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust while at work, his employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. The man developed COPD due to this exposure and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is often found in workplaces such as bus depots and garages there are "growing legal claims" concerning exposure to toxic diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust contains large 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 a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in some rail yard environments include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. 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 classified exhausts from diesel engines as a carcinogen. The agency warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for men and 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 failed to provide him with the appropriate safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds every day. These toxic substances include diesel exhaust and fumes, silica, creosote, metal dusts, coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritants.
The problem with these toxic substances is that they are capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, which can cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD. This is a chronic condition that causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing for a long time as well as weight loss and, in certain instances asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad workers suffering from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably secure.
Unfortunately it's not always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that are inherent to their work However, they fail to safeguard workers. railroad lawsuits is what FELA was created to make them accountable for. If you've developed a medical condition that was caused by your railroad work, you should contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has handled successfully FELA cases.