Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed various toxic toxins that can harm them due to their work. union pacific railroad lawsuit of them is asbestos that was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these harmful substances can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains are still a vital role in the nation’s freight network, despite the fact that railroads have waned in popularity in recent decades because of the increased use of cars. Railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances for a long period of time, which can adversely affect their health. Particularly our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers highlight that railway workers are frequently at risk for developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a hazardous substance that can break into microscopically thin fibers that can be inhaled into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring that can lead a number serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For instance one man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He alleges the railroad knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous conditions without providing adequate protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. cancer lawsuit claims that he breathed diesel exhaust, creosote, dust, chemicals, powders and other particles that impacted his lung.
Moreover, this man says the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to railroad lawsuit has violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) duty to provide its employees with a safe and secure work environment.
Diesel fumes
The exhaust fumes produced by diesel engines can affect a railroad worker's health. In some instances these fumes could cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case of a machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work, his employer failed to provide adequate protection equipment. The worker was diagnosed with COPD due to this exposure and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation of the nose, eyes or throat and cause short-term symptoms, such as coughing or Phlegm. Inhaling cancer lawsuit may also cause chest pain and wheezing.
In addition to the diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in some rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxic substances are inhaled and can lead to chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a definitive carcinogen. The agency warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer, both for females and males.
Smoking
cancer lawsuit filed an occupational disease claim alleging his long-term exposure to toxic chemicals at work caused him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that his employer failed to provide him with appropriate safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of substances on a regular basis. These poisons include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts sulfur dioxide, benzene, chemical degreasers, dioxins and other airborne irritants.
The issue with these toxic substances is that they are able to penetrate deep into the lung tissue, which causes damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder which is also known as COPD. It is a chronic disease that can cause shortness of breath wheezing and coughing for a long time as well as weight loss and, in some instances, asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroads to offer their employees an acceptable and secure place to work.
Sadly, this isn’t always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers associated with their work, but they don't take precautions to protect their workers. FELA was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their negligence. If you've developed an illness that is related to your railroad career, contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has successfully handled FELA cases.