7 Effective Tips To Make The Maximum Use Of Your Railroad Lawsuit Multiple Myeloma
Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
Railroad workers are exposed to numerous toxic toxins that can harm them due to their work. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line and insulate them, is one of these hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these harmful chemicals can wreck havoc on the lung of railroad workers. Our FELA attorneys help victims of lung disease caused by railroads hold the companies accountable for their actions.
Asbestos
Trains play a significant part in the nation's freight network, despite the fact that railroads have lost their popularity in recent decades because of the increased use of automobiles. This is why railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to various toxic substances that could impact their health. Particularly the lawyers at our Boston asbestos exposure to railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers have often been at risk of developing lung diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers which can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of lung tissue, which can result in a variety of serious respiratory diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
For example one man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma following a career on the railroad for over 30 years has filed an Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit. The railroad claims to have knowingly allowed him to work in dangerous environments without providing him with adequate protective equipment or warnings of potential dangers. He claims he inhaled creosote and diesel exhaust, chemicals, dust, powders and other particles that impacted his lungs.
Additionally, the plaintiff claims the Illinois Central Railroad failed to provide him with the proper medical surgical, hospital, 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 employees.
Diesel fumes
Diesel engine emissions can have a negative impact on the health of railroad workers. In some cases, these fumes can lead to lung disease such as COPD. In the case of one machine operator who was exposed diesel exhaust at work, his employer failed to provide the appropriate protective equipment. The man was diagnosed with COPD because of this and now utilizes oxygen tanks each day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces like bus depots and garages, a recent article by The Guardian reports that "UK legal claims grow over exposure to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel emissions contain high levels of nitrogen oxides, which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides can cause irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat. They can also cause short-term symptoms such as coughing or phlegm. Inhaling diesel fumes can also cause chest tightness and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes and other pollutants, others that can be found in some rail yard environments include creosote, chemicals, dust and powders. These toxins can be inhaled and lead to long term problems like COPD and lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as a carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of bladder cancer in both men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor recently filed an occupational disease claim, claiming that his exposure to toxic chemicals at work led him to develop COPD. He claims his employer did not provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These contaminants include diesel fumes and exhaust, silica dust, creosote as well as metal dusts in coal smoke, sulfur dioxide and benzene as in chemical degreasers as well as dioxins.
union pacific railroad lawsuit with these toxins is that they are able to penetrate deep into the lung tissue, where they cause damage, and eventually cause chronic obstructive-pulmonary disease, also known as COPD. The chronic illness can cause shortness of breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In certain instances, it can also cause asthma.
Railroad employees who suffer from work-related respiratory ailments such as emphysema and other may be eligible for compensation under Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) 45 U.S.C. 51. This law requires that railroads provide their employees with a safe place of work that is reasonably secure.
However, this isn't always the however. 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 negligence. If you have a medical condition that is related to your railroad experience, contact a mesothelioma lawyer who has dealt with FELA cases successfully.