You could be eligible for railroad Workers and cancer compensation if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer while working as a railroad employee. The Federal Employers Liability (FELA) which allows compensation for railroad employers who are negligent and cause cancer or related injuries, provides this chance.
Diesel exhaust fumes are a typical cause of lung cancer in railway workers. Exposure to this carcinogenic compound could also trigger other types of cancers, such as bladder cancer, leukemia, esophageal tumors, and pancreatic cancer.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer may be accelerated due to the exposure railway workers to diesel exhaust fumes. The fumes consist of diesel fuel, and it contains a toxic mixture of more than a dozen carcinogenic chemicals. They also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can damage the lungs in the course of time.
Railroad workers are frequently exposed to diesel fumes during their work in the shop area or in the cabs of engine crews. The diesel fumes are made up of the main components of diesel fuel. These include carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxide, in addition to other minor components. These toxins can cause a number of serious health issues that include lung diseases, as well as cancer and heart attacks.
According to a study, railroad engineers and conductors were at higher risk of lung cancer. This type of cancer usually occurs in the lungs and railroad workers Cancer can often be fatal within a couple of months.
There are two types of lung cancer that are non-small-cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. There are numerous treatments for both. However, it is difficult and expensive to treat a lung cancer.
You could be able to file a claim against your employer when you or a family member has contracted lung cancer from working in the railroad industry. Federal law gives railroad workers the right to file claims for medical damages in the event that their condition was caused by their workplace conditions or negligence.
To determine if a railroad worker’s illness was due to their work, a lawyer can review the employee’s employment history and employment documents. He or she can also seek out other professionals who are proficient in investigating and prosecuting lawsuits related to railroads.
It was well-known that asbestos and other carcinogenic substances were employed by railroad companies which put workers at a higher risk of mesothelioma. Railroad companies continued to use asbestos and other asbestos-containing materials even after it was banned in 1970.
As a result, they developed mesothelioma, the most deadly form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. It is also a precursor to other types of cancer.
There is a strong relationship between exposure to diesel exhaust and the risk of dying from lung cancer. As a result, it is vital railway workers undergo regular medical checkups , and ask their physicians to recommend lung cancer screening tests. These tests include chest x-rays or low-dose CT scans.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a form of cancer that develops in the blood-forming tissues. It is a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. If left untreated it could cause death.
Railroad workers are at greater risk of developing this kind of cancer because of their work environment’s exposure to chemicals. The most frequent chemical exposures include herbicides, pesticides, benzene, and diesel fuel.
There is an increasing amount of evidence that suggests that certain industrial chemicals can increase the risk of developing leukemia, a type of blood cancer. The most common of these chemical exposures is benzene, which is a petroleum product that can be found in diesel and gasoline fuel.
Benzene is a clear flammable liquid with a sweet scent. It is also an ingredient in a variety of solvents and lubricants.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has classified benzene as carcinogen. This means that it could cause cancer. It is present in diesel exhaust that railroad machinists and engineers, electricians, conductors and workers are exposed to regularly.
Creosote and coal tar are two other common chemicals that can trigger leukemia-like blood cancers among railroad workers. Both of these chemicals are found on railway bridges and structures and also in the ties that train track department employees use to connect railroad tracks.
Pesticides and herbicides are two additional chemicals that have been linked to blood cancers in railroad workers. Pesticides and herbicides can be used to kill pests and unwanted plant life that can be found in the railroad yard or right of way.
The most frequently used pesticides in railroad yards or right-ofways are herbicides and fungicides. These chemicals may increase the chance of developing a particular type of blood cancer like leukemia. They can cause abnormal blood cells to grow in your bone marrow, which could cause an impairment in the capacity to function normally.
Other industrial chemicals that may be a risk for blood cancers in railroad workers include asbestos, lead and benzene. These toxins can all be extremely harmful and can lead to death if not treated.
Asbestos Cancer
Asbestos can trigger a variety of serious illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and more. Cancer can take years to develop, and some asbestos-related cancers can be fatal. We can assist you if or someone you know has suffered an asbestos-related illness.
Railroad workers were the main source for asbestos exposure in the 20th century, particularly when they were involved in the manufacture and repair of rail products. Engineers boilermakers, casters of metal, and other people working with these products were exposed to asbestos fibers during the production process.
Inhaling asbestos can cause damage to the lining (pleura) or stomach and the intestines. The two most common types of mesothelioma are mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneal me.
Mesothelioma is the most severe type of asbestos-related cancer is the most prevalent. It is most commonly found in the lungs, however it can be found in the abdominal lining, heart or testicles.
A physical examination and blood tests are enough to diagnose mesothelioma. However doctors may also conduct an imaging scan to look for any anomalies in the body. If they believe mesothelioma is to be the reason behind the patient’s symptoms, they will conduct a biopsy to collect the fluid or tissue to test.
An attorney who is knowledgeable with FELA lawsuits should be sought out by anyone who has been diagnosed mesothelioma. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Railway workers who had been exposed to asbestos for a substantial amount of time are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma and other related illnesses than other workers in the same field. They are 35 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than those who were never exposed to asbestos.
They are also more likely to develop cardiopulmonary fibrosis, other diseases that can lead to death such as strokes or heart failure. Numerous reports have been reported that link railroad workers to asbestos-related illnesses in the last 50 years.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma as well as other serious health problems. Moreover railroad workers who have smoked cigarettes are at even greater likelihood of developing lung cancer.
Other Cancers
Railroad workers are part of an enormous industry that moves goods every day from coal to cars and are exposed to various substances that could lead to cancer. The most frequent substances that may cause cancer in railroad workers are benzene and asbestos.
Benzene is a chemical which originates from crude oil gasoline, and other sources. it is found in the exhaust of trains and in degreasing solvents used by railroads to clean up their equipment. It can be absorbed by the skin and is a carcinogen that can be dangerous.
Wearing safety glasses when working with the fumes of diesel or degreasing solvents can help protect your eyes from the harmful effects of benzene. People who work in places which are suffused with diesel fumes could inhale benzene. It is also possible to inhale the fumes.
Another substance that could cause cancer railroad workers may be exposed to is creosote. It’s a hefty oily, smoky smelling liquid that is typically used to treat wood for use in the railroad industry. It is a known carcinogen, but it can also be inhaled by railroad workers who treat railroad ties with creosote.
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer that railroad workers develop. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified diesel emissions from locomotives as group 1 (carcinogenic for humans).
Diesel exhaust is responsible for 40 percent of lung cancers in railway workers. In a study that lasted 38 years, workers who were exposed to diesel exhaust were more likely to develop lung cancer than those who were not.
Despite all safety precautions, there is still a high risk of developing cancer due to working in the railway industry. It has been reported that those who are employed with modern diesel engines are more likely to develop rate of lung cancer.
People who have contracted cancer while working on railroad tracks may be eligible for compensation. It’s very important to consult with a certified legal professional whenever you learn that you have a cancer related to your job.