Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma

Railroad workers are exposed many harmful toxins as a result their work. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.

Unfortunately, these harmful substances can be destructive to the lungs of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their negligence.

Asbestos

Although railroads have been criticized as a mode of transportation in recent years as more people switch to cars, trains still have a crucial role to play in the nation's network of freight. Therefore, railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to various toxins that can affect their health. Particularly our Boston railroad worker asbestos exposure lawyers note that railway employees are often at risk of developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance that is able to break down into microscopically thin fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of the lung tissue, which can cause a variety of serious respiratory conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

For instance one man diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for more than 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. He claims that the railroad let him work in hazardous environments without providing him with appropriate protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims that he inhaled diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, as well as other particles, which affected his lungs.

The plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical treatment, hospitalization, therapy, and surgical care for his injuries and illnesses. According to his complaint the railroad has violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide employees with a safe working environment.

Diesel fumes

Diesel engine emissions can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In certain instances, these fumes may cause lung diseases, such as COPD. In the instance where an machinist was exposed diesel exhaust while working his employer failed to provide the proper protective equipment. The worker suffered from COPD because of this and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.

The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is commonly found at places of work like bus depots and garages, there are "growing legal claims" about exposure to harmful diesel fumes. Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides which are harmful to those who breathe it. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes, railroad worker and throat. They can also cause short-term discomforts such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may also cause chest pain and wheezing.

Other pollutants that can be found in rail yards are dust, chemicals, and creosote. These toxic substances can be inhaled and lead to 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 also warns that there is evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of bladder cancer for both men and women.

Smoking

A railroad worker filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals led him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer did not provide him with the appropriate safety equipment which allowed him to breathe in hundreds of compounds each day. These poisons include diesel fumes as well as exhaust, silica dust creosote and metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide and benzene as in chemical degreasers as well as dioxins.

These toxins can penetrate deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, eventually leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as COPD). This is a chronic illness which causes breathlessness wheezing and coughing for a long time and railroad worker weight loss, and in certain cases, asthma.

The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from respiratory diseases caused by their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to offer their employees an acceptable and secure place to work.

However this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers that they face in their work, but they do not take the necessary precautions to protect their workers. FELA was established to hold railroads accountable for their actions. If you have an illness that is related to your railroad experience, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.