10 Railroad Lawsuit Multiple Myeloma Tips All Experts Recommend
Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of toxic toxins due to their work. One of them is asbestos which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious harm to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of railroad-related lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Although railroads have been criticized as a means of transportation in recent years as more people turn to automobiles, trains play a significant role in the nation's transportation network. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxic substances for a long period of time, which can adversely affect 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 can be broken into tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lungs. These fibers can cause severe lung tissue scarring, which can result in a number of serious respiratory ailments like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For instance one man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He alleges the railroad knowingly let him work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings about possible dangers. He claims that he inhaled diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, in addition to other particulates, which impacted his lungs.
The plaintiff claims that Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization medical 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 their employees.
Diesel fumes
The exhaust fumes produced by diesel engines can affect the health of railroad workers. In certain cases, these fumes may cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In the case of one worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust at work the employer did not provide adequate protective equipment. In the process, the man developed COPD and is required to use oxygen tanks every day.
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 increase due to exposure at work to harmful diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to humans. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term discomforts such as a cough or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxins are breathed in, and can lead to long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as carcinogens. railroad lawsuits warns that exposure to diesel engine exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer in both females and males.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational ill health 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 the appropriate safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds every day. These toxins include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote coal smoke, metal dusts sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritants.
These toxins can be absorbed into lung tissue where they cause damage, eventually leading to chronic obstructive lung disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic condition that causes breathlessness, persistent coughing and wheezing and weight loss, and in certain instances asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory illnesses such as emphysema, asthma, or other can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroad companies provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably secure.
However, this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks associated with their work, yet they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their employees. This is what FELA was designed to ensure they are accountable for. If you've suffered from an illness that is related to your railroad work, consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has successfully handled FELA cases.
