A Railroad Cancer Lawyer Can Help Workers Sue For Blood Cancer
Rail employees who are exposed to carcinogenic chemicals while at work face severe health risk. If employees are diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, a dedicated railroad cancer lawyer can help them seek compensation from their employers.
For example, CN railroad yard workers have been exposed for years to the wood-preservative, creosote and some of them have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Studies have also linked the weedkiller glyphosate and an increased risk of lung cancer.
Benzene
The chemical benzene is a transparent liquid with a pleasant scent. It evaporates quickly in the air and can also be taken in through the skin. Benzene can be found in numerous products, including solvents and lubricants. It is also found in diesel and gasoline. The World Health Organization lists benzene as carcinogenic to humans. It has been linked with several types of blood cancers. These include acute myelogenous (AML) leukemia in children, and chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in adults.
Acute myelogenous lymphoma can cause abnormalities in the bone marrow and red blood cells and also white blood cells. This can cause blood tumors, affecting the immune system and causing severe adverse effects. It can also affect your brain and nervous system. It is estimated that more than 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 and diesel fumes as well as pesticides, herbicides, and asbestos. These carcinogens were used in a range of railyard tasks, such as maintaining track and other infrastructure. BNSF was mandated by federal law to safeguard workers from the harmful chemicals. This was a cause of numerous cases of long term and painful illness. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you seek compensation for your damages under FELA which is the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Creosote
Creosote is commonly used on wood treated by railroad workers. The harmful chemicals get into the skin and begin to harm cells. Over time, a railroad worker may develop blood cancer as a result of exposure. Cancers can range from acute leukemia non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myelodysplastic Syndrome to acute myeloid cancer. Exposure to these chemicals could also cause lung, bladder and skin cancer.
Railroad lawsuits allege that the railroad did not inform its employees of the risks and failed to take the necessary steps to safeguard the workers. Additionally, some of these chemicals are abrasive and can cause skin burns. railroad controls limited lawsuit of exposure to creosote are burning in the throat and mouth smoking, a sour smell, stomach pain and a eruption of rash.
A recent case involves a railroad employee who claims exposure to chemicals, toxins and other toxins have caused him chronic health problems. He claims his job required him to work with ties that were soaked with creosote and solvents. He claims he also used gloves that were treated with creosote.
A jury awarded a former railroad employee $7.5 million for his injuries resulting from exposure to creosote as well as other hazardous chemicals he was exposed to during his work. He filed a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act claiming that the railroad failed to provide him with the proper safety equipment.
Asbestos
Railroad workers may be exposed to a variety of chemicals such as welding fumes diesel exhaust, asbestos and silica. They are thus susceptible to a wide variety of illnesses and disorders. Other illnesses and injuries are also a result of railroad work. A railroad lawyer who is knowledgeable about the law may be able to assess the case of a worker, and help them pursue the full amount of compensation they are entitled to under federal law.
Benzene was banned in the United States over 20 years ago. However, it is still present in degreasers as well as solvents employed by railroad workers. It's a by-product from diesel exhaust and can cause anemia. Workers have also been affected by lymphoma which is the cancer that affects blood cells.
A number of lawsuits have been filed against CSX Railroad Company by workers who claim that their jobs exposed them to toxic substances. Eight lawsuits were filed in 2018. In one of these lawsuits, the widow of Waycross man claimed his work as a machinist for the railroad caused stomach cancer, which led to the death of her husband in 2014. Other lawsuits claim exposure to diesel exhaust, benzene and creosote herbicides, weed killers and asbestos.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel train fumes are packed with cancer-causing chemicals, such as benzene. Benzene, a clear liquid that is easily flammable, is utilized as solvent and lubricant. It is also present in diesel exhaust that railroad workers, including engineers and machinists are exposed to on a regular basis. Benzene can cause cancer and leukemia.
Other chemicals that cause cancer to which railroad workers are exposed include creosote as well as coal tar. Creosote is a thick oily liquid used to treat railroad ties. It is a known carcinogen that can be inhaled by railroad workers, and is the reason for around 40 percent of lung cancers that occur among American railroad workers, according to an investigation that lasted for 38 years.
Exposure to diesel exhaust could 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 which can result in chronic respiratory diseases mortality without smoking.
If you are a current or former railroad employee who has been diagnosed with a blood cancer or a different disease that could be caused by exposure to benzene asbestos, or other toxic workplace materials, contact Hughes Law Offices today to discuss your case with an experienced railroad lawyer. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railroad workers to claim compensation if their employers have been negligent and cause a workplace illness.