Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of the work they do, railroad workers can be exposed to numerous toxic substances. One of the most toxic substances is asbestos, which was used to insulate and line older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can be destructive to the lungs of railroad workers. Our FELA lawyers help those suffering from lung disease on railroads hold companies accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
While railroads have seen a decline as a means of transportation in recent years as more people switch to automobiles, trains play a vital role in the nation's transportation network. Railroad workers are exposed to toxic substances for a long period of time, which can have a negative impact on their health. Specifically our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers have often been at risk for developing lung diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos is a hazard that can be broken down into microscopically thin fibers that can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause serious lung tissue scarring, which can lead a number serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
A man diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last 30 years of service for the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. He alleges the railroad knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing him with adequate protective equipment or warnings about potential dangers. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes or chemicals, dust or powders, along with other particulates that affected the lungs of his.
Furthermore, the plaintiff claims that the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with adequate medical surgical, hospital, and therapeutic care for his injuries and illnesses. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees.
union pacific railroad lawsuit 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 case of one machinist who was exposed to diesel exhaust while working his employer did not provide the proper protection equipment. The worker suffered from COPD due to this exposure and now uses oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust from engines is commonplace in workplaces such as garages and bus depots the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims increase due to exposure at work to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling cancer lawsuit 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 pollutants are inhaled and can cause long-term problems such as COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer for both men and women.
Smoking
cancer lawsuit filed an occupational ill health claim alleging his long-term 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 that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These contaminants include diesel exhaust, fumes silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritants.
The issue with these toxins is that they are capable of piercing deep into the lung tissue where they cause damage and eventually cause chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD. The chronic illness is characterized by shortness of breath wheezing, constant coughing and weight loss. In certain instances, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from workplace-related respiratory diseases such as emphysema can be compensated under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires railroads to offer their employees a reasonably safe place to work.
However it's not always the situation. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers associated with their work, yet they fail to safeguard their workers. FELA was established to hold railroad companies accountable for their blunders. If you have a medical condition that is associated with your railroad work, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.