Railroad Settlements and Asbestos
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which provided funding for two transcontinental railroads by granting large grants of lands for rights-of-way. Railroad workers who contract cancer because of exposure to work-related hazards could bring lawsuits against their employers under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A jury in Illinois awarded $7.5 million to a former Union Pacific Trackman who died from acute myeloid leukemia. He blamed his blood cancer on a massive workplace exposures to creosote and benzene. Both were used to preserve and waterproof railroad ties made of wooden.
Creosote
Coal tar Creosote, an organic wood preserver, is used to shield railroad ties from the sun, heat and cold, rain and snow. Workers are exposed to harmful chemicals and solvents, including benzene, during the application of coal creosote tar. railroad back injury settlements is a well-known carcinogen is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well with other serious consequences like convulsions, heartbeat changes, liver damage, anemia and cancers of the lungs and the body.
Our lawyers have successfully prosecuted several lawsuits against Union Pacific Railroad for exposure to coal-tar creosote. One of these cases resulted with the settlement of a $7.500,000 verdict. The plaintiff was a track employee who contracted acute myeloidleukemia as a result of exposure to the chemical compound that is toxic during his employment for over 31 years. The jury found that railroad did not provide him with personal protective equipment and exposed him to a wide range of toxic chemicals such as coal-tar tar creosote, as well as coal distillates.
Another argument was the use of copper naphthalenate an alternative to creosote derived from coal. While copper naphthenate isn't as environmentally harmful than creosote is, it can still be extremely harmful. Copper naphthenate is a cancer-causing agent and can cause skin, nerve and lung damage. It is also a source of contamination for the groundwater and soil with benzene.
Benzene
Benzene, a colorless liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, is used to manufacture plastics, resins and synthetic fibers. It is also used in diesel fuel and exhaust. Nearly all railroad workers are exposed to diesel fumes on a regular basis. Benzene is a carcinogen that has been linked with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
There is no limit to the amount of exposure to benzene. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled. Long-term exposure to it can damage the blood supply and trigger various health issues, including menstrual irregularities, anemia and fertility issues. Benzene can also be linked to certain types of cancers including breast and lung cancer.
Inhaling benzene can be the most dangerous. Inhaling benzene may cause headaches, dizziness nose bleeds, headaches, and loss of consciousness. Benzene may also affect the immune system and cause infections.
Recent reports have revealed the elevated levels benzene near two Chicago train stations. Commuters and railroad workers were exposed to these high levels of pollution, which caused schools to shut down classes and cities to request residents to shelter-in-place. Railroad workers, including car department employees, locomotive machinists pipefitters and electricians, often make use of benzene-containing items such as Safety-Kleen parts washers and CRC Brakleen as well as paints and thinners. The chemical is also used in printing solvents.
Asbestos
At first, asbestos was used in the railroad industry. Asbestos is comprised of six silicate minerals that naturally occur with fibrous structure. They were once utilized in construction because they had fire retardant, corrosion resistant and insulate characteristics. Inhaling these tiny fibers could cause serious health problems such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These diseases can last up to 30 years before symptoms are evident.
The EPA has banned asbestos mining and processing in the United States however, it can be found in a wide range of products. This includes certain types of paper, floor felt, and fake fire embers. When these materials are exposed to water or heat, they can release asbestos fibers. These fibers could also be released into air during demolition or home renovations.
A recent study has found that even a five-year exposure to benzene significantly increases the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). If you're experiencing symptoms like night sweats, a mysterious weight loss and suppression or loss of appetite, see your doctor immediately. They can perform a blood test to look for AML.
railroad back injury settlements settled a case with Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (GWRSI). GWRSI utilizes locomotives that run on diesel fuel and emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This EPA settlement requires that GWRSI replace any of its locomotives with more modern models that are compliant with EPA emission standards.
Diesel Exhaust
As long diesel fuel continues to be used to power freight trains railroad workers are exposed exhaust. Diesel exhaust is a mix of toxic chemicals which include carcinogens like benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. It also contains nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 carcinogen. Furthermore, diesel exhaust is a cause of respiratory illnesses in the form of bronchiopulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A 2006 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives linked railroad worker's work and COPD rates.
Locomotive and rail cars belch diesel exhaust when they are running and are idling in depots, roundhouses, yards and shops. The idling engines and machinery emit gasses in addition to the diesel fumes. These include nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.
The smell of diesel exhaust is typically present in locomotive cabs, where conductors and engineers are seated for up to six hours at an time. The equipment and engine emit more exhaust fumes from diesel engines when people enter or leave the cabins. railroad injury settlement amounts can cause pulmonary and cancerous conditions.
In poorly ventilated roundhouses as well as workshops and shops railroad mechanics face an extreme risk of exposure to diesel exhaust. They work in enclosed spaces with locomotives, track equipment and asbestos-insulated steam boilers.