Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Due to the work they do railroad workers are exposed to various harmful toxins. One such toxic substance is asbestos, which was used to line and insulate older train cars.
Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause serious damage to the lungs of railway workers. Our FELA attorneys help victims of lung diseases that are caused by railroads hold companies accountable for their negligent acts.
Norfolk Southern Railway lawsuit play a significant part in the country's freight network, despite the fact that railroads have been losing popularity in recent decades due to the increasing use of cars. Railroad workers have been exposed to toxins for a long time which can adversely affect their health. Particularly, our Boston railroad worker asbestos exposure lawyers highlight that railway workers are frequently at risk of developing lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos can be broken into tiny fibers that can be inhaled into lung. These fibers can cause serious scarring of the lung tissue, which could result in a variety of serious respiratory conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
A man who was diagnosed mesothelioma after 30 years of employment with the railroad has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad. The railroad claims to have knowingly let him work in hazardous conditions without providing appropriate protective equipment or warnings about potential dangers. He claims he breathed in diesel fumes, chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particles, which impacted his lungs.
This man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with the proper medical care, hospitalization, therapeutic and surgical 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 its employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative effect on the health of railroad workers. In some instances the fumes can cause lung diseases like COPD. In the case of a worker who was exposed to diesel exhaust while at work the employer did not provide proper protection equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD and has to utilize oxygen tanks on a regular basis.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces, such as garages and bus depots, the latest article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to toxic diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides that can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms like coughing or phlegm. Inhaling Stomach cancer lawsuit can cause chest pain and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxins are inhaled, and can cause chronic health problems like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a certain carcinogen. Interstitial lung disease lawsuit warns that there are indications that exposure to diesel engine exhaust may increase the risks of bladder cancer for females and males.
Smoking
A railroad worker filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure at work to toxic chemicals led him to develop COPD. Interstitial lung disease lawsuit claims that his employer did not provide him with the proper safety equipment, which allowed him to breathe in a myriad of compounds every day. These toxins include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke sulfur dioxide, benzene as also chemical degreasers, and dioxins.
The problem with these toxins is that they are capable of piercing deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, and eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, also known as COPD. This is a chronic condition that can cause shortness of breath, persistent coughing and wheezing, weight loss, and in some instances asthma.
Railroad workers who suffer from work-related respiratory illnesses such as emphysema, asthma, or other are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees a place of work that is reasonably secure.
However, this isn't always the situation. Railroad corporations are well aware of the risks they face in their job but they often fail to safeguard their workers. FELA was created to hold railroad companies accountable for their blunders. If you suffer from medical conditions that are connected to your railroad career, seek out a seasoned mesothelioma attorney who has handled FELA cases successfully.