Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of the work they perform, railroad workers can be exposed to harmful toxins. Asbestos which was used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, acute myeloid leukemia lawsuit can cause serious damage to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers aid victims of railroad lung diseases hold corporations accountable for their wrongful actions.
Asbestos
Trains play a significant part in the country's freight network, despite the fact that railroads have been losing popularity in recent years because of the increased use of automobiles. Therefore, railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to a variety of toxins that could influence their health. Particularly our Boston asbestos exposure lawyer for railroad workers lawyers point out that railroad workers are usually at risk of developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into the lung. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could lead to a number of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
For example, a man diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on the railroad for 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. lung cancer lawsuit from smoking claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in dangerous environments without supplying him with proper protective equipment or warnings of potential hazards. He claims he inhaled creosote, diesel exhaust, powders, chemicals, dust and other particulates that affected his lungs.
In addition, the man claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgery, hospital, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to his lawsuit, the railroad violated its Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) obligation to provide its employees with a safe work environment.
Diesel fumes
The fumes released by diesel engines can affect the health of railroad workers. In certain cases these fumes could cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case where a machinist was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work his employer failed to provide the proper protective equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD and has to use oxygen tanks daily.
The Guardian reported in a recent article that in the United Kingdom, where diesel exhaust is typically found in workplaces like 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 people. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also cause short-term discomforts such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes may cause chest tightness and wheezing.
Other contaminants that are found in rail yards are dust chemical, creosote, and dust. These toxins are breathed in, and can lead to long-term health issues such as COPD or 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 can increase the risk of bladder cancer among men and women.
Smoking
A railroad worker filed an occupational illness claim recently, claiming that his continuous exposure at work to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. He claims that his employer failed to provide him with appropriate safety equipment that allowed him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These toxic substances include diesel exhaust and fumes silica, creosote, coal smoke, metal dusts, sulfur dioxide, benzene, dioxins, chemical degreasers and other airborne irritating substances.
The toxins can seep deep into lung tissue where they cause damage that can lead to chronic obstructive respiratory disorder (also known as COPD). mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuit causes shortness of breath wheezing, constant coughing and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. provides compensation to railroad workers suffering from respiratory illnesses that result from their work. 51. This law requires railroad companies to provide their employees with a safe workplace that is reasonably secure.
However, this isn't always the reality. Railroad companies are aware of the dangers associated with their work, yet they fail to protect their workers. FELA was created to hold railroad corporations accountable for their negligence. If lung cancer lawsuit from smoking suffer from medical conditions that are linked to your railroad career seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.