A Railroad Cancer Lawyer Can Help Workers Sue For Blood Cancer
Rail employees who are exposed to carcinogenic chemical substances at work are exposed to significant health risks. If they are diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, an experienced railroad cancer lawyer can assist them obtain compensation from their employers.
For instance, CN rail yard workers have been exposed wood preservative creosote for decades, and some have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Similarly, studies link the weedkiller glyphosate to an increased risk of lung cancer.
Benzene
The chemical benzene has a clear liquid with a sweet scent. It quickly evaporates in the air and can also be absorbed through the skin. Benzene is a component in a wide range of products, including solvents and lubricants. It is also used in gasoline and diesel fuel. The World Health Organization has classified benzene as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene is associated with a variety of blood cancers including acute myelogenous Leukemia (AML) in children, and chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in adults.
Acute myelogenous Lymphoma can cause abnormalities in the bone marrow and red blood cells as well as white blood cells. This can result in blood tumors that alter the immune system and cause serious side consequences. It can also affect the nervous system and brain. It is estimated that around 200,000 railroad workers are living with AML or other blood cancers caused by their job-related exposure to harmful chemicals.
In the past, railroad workers were exposed to creosote fumes, diesel fumes pesticides, herbicides, and asbestos. These carcinogens can be found in a variety of railyard activities which include track maintenance, as well as other infrastructure. BNSF was required by Federal law to provide workers with adequate protection from these harmful chemicals. This failure resulted in numerous cases of chronic and debilitating illness. A skilled lawyer could help you pursue compensation for your injuries under FELA, the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Creosote
Creosote is often used on the wood that is treated by railroad workers. The toxic chemicals can penetrate the skin and begin to damage cells. csx railroad lawsuit to harmful chemicals can cause blood cancers in railroad workers over time. The types of cancer vary from acute myeloid leukemia to myelodysplastic disorder, non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and many more. These chemicals can cause lung, skin and bladder cancers.
Railroad lawsuits claim that the railroad didn't warn workers about these risks and didn't take the necessary steps to protect the workers. In addition certain chemicals can be abrasive, and cause burns to the skin. Symptoms of creosote exposure include burning in the throat and mouth smoking, a sour smell stomach pain and skin rash.
Recent case involves a railway worker who claims exposure to chemicals, toxins and other toxins has brought him to suffer from chronic health problems. The worker claims his job required him to work with tie ties that were soaked with creosote and solvents. He says he also wore gloves that were treated with creosote.
A jury awarded an ex-railway worker $7.5 Million for injuries caused by creosote and other dangerous chemicals he was exposed to during his work. He filed an action under the Federal Employers Liability Act, claiming the railroad did not provide him with adequate safety equipment.
Asbestos
Railroad workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, including welding fumes and diesel exhaust. They may also be exposed to asbestos or silica. They are thus at risk of a wide variety of illnesses and disorders. Other injuries and illnesses can also be attributed to railroad work. A knowledgeable lawyer for railroads can evaluate a worker's case and help him or her seek the maximum amount of compensation that is their right to under federal law.
Benzene was banned in the United States over 20 years ago. However, it's still found in degreasers and solvents used by railroad workers. It's a byproduct from diesel exhaust, and can cause anemia. People have also been diagnosed with lymphoma. which is a form of cancer that affects blood cells.
CSX Railroad Company has been sued by a number of employees who claim their jobs exposed them toxic substances. Eight lawsuits were filed during the year 2018. In one of these lawsuits, the widow of a Waycross man claimed his work as a railroad machinist led to stomach cancer, which led to the death of her husband in 2014. Several other lawsuits allege exposure to diesel exhaust, benzene creosote herbicides, weed killers, and asbestos.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel train fumes contain cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene. Benzene, a clear liquid that is easily flammable, is utilized as solvent and lubricant. It is also found in diesel exhausts that railroad workers, like engineers and machinists, are exposed to on a daily basis. Benzene can cause leukemia and cancer.
Other harmful substances to which railroad workers are exposed include creosote, as well as coal tar. Creosote is a hefty oily liquid used to treat railroad ties. It is a well-known carcinogen that can be inhaled by railroad workers, and it is the cause of around 40 percent of lung cancers that occur among American railroad workers in an investigation that lasted for 38 years.
Excessive exposure to diesel exhaust may also increase the risk of contracting multiple myeloma. This cancer affects bone marrow and affects the production of blood plasma. Diesel exhaust is also a source for particulate matter that could cause the death of people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, independent of smoking.
If you are a former or current railroad worker who has been diagnosed with a blood cancer or a different disease that could be caused by exposure to benzene, asbestos, or other harmful workplace materials, contact Hughes Law Offices today to discuss your case with a knowledgeable railroad attorney. The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad employees to claim compensation if their employers are guilty of negligence that results in a workplace disease.