A Railroad Cancer Lawyer Can Help Workers Sue For Blood Cancer
Railroad employees who are exposed to a myriad of carcinogenic substances on working sites face significant health risk. A lawyer for railroad cancer can help employees who have been diagnosed with cancer or other chronic illnesses.
For instance, CN railroad yard workers have been exposed for years to the wood-preservative creosote, and a few have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Studies have linked the weedkiller, glyphosate and an increase in lung cancer risk.
Benzene
The chemical benzene is a transparent liquid with a pleasant scent. It can be absorbed through the skin and vaporizes quickly. Benzene is found in many products, such as solvents and lubricants. It is also present in gasoline and diesel fuel. The World Health Organization lists benzene as carcinogenic to humans. railroad lawsuit has been linked to a number of types of blood cancers, including acute myelogenous (AML) leukemia in children, and chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), in adults.
Acute myelogenous lesions can cause bone marrow red blood cells, the bone marrow and white blood cells to change. This can result in blood tumors that affect the immune system, and have serious side effects. It can also affect your nervous system and brain. It is estimated that over 200,000 railway workers suffer with AML or other blood cancers that result from the work-related exposure they endure to harmful chemicals.
In the past railroad workers were exposed to creosote, diesel fumes, pesticides, herbicides and asbestos. These carcinogens were used in a range of railyard duties, such as maintaining track and other infrastructure. BNSF had a duty under Federal law to give workers adequate protection against these harmful chemicals. This negligence led to numerous cases of long-term and chronic illnesses. A competent lawyer can help you seek compensation for your damages under FELA The Federal Employers Liability Act.
Creosote
Creosote is a common treatment for wood treated by railroad workers. The toxic chemicals soak into the skin and begin to harm cells. Exposure to toxic chemicals could cause blood cancers in railroad workers over time. Cancers can vary from acute leukemia to myelodysplastic syndrome, and non-Hodgkin's lymphom to acute myeloid cancer. Exposure to these chemicals may cause bladder, lung and skin cancer.
Railroad lawsuits assert that the railroad did not inform its employees about the dangers they face and failed to take the necessary steps to protect them. Some of these chemicals may also cause skin burns. The signs of exposure to creosote include burning in the throat and mouth, the smell of smoke, stomach pain and a rash.
A recent instance involves a railroad worker who claims his exposure chemicals and toxins caused him to have chronic health problems. He claims his job requires him handle ties soaked in creosote and solvents. He also says that he wore gloves treated with creosote.
A jury awarded an ex-railroad worker $7.5 million for injuries related to creosote exposure and other dangerous chemicals he was exposed while working on the job. He filed a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act, contending that the railroad failed to provide him with safety equipment.
Asbestos
Railroad workers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals including welding fumes and diesel exhaust. They could also be exposed to asbestos or silica. As a result, they are susceptible to various illnesses and conditions. Lung cancer is among the most common conditions but other ailments and injuries have been linked to railway work. A railroad lawyer who is knowledgeable about the law can evaluate the case of a worker and assist them get the full amount of compensation they are entitled to under federal law.
Benzene is one of the chemicals that was banned in the United States 20 years ago and is still used in solvents and degreasers used by railroad workers. It's a byproduct from diesel exhaust and can cause anemia. Workers have also been affected by lymphoma - a cancer that affects blood cells.
CSX Railroad Company has been accused of wrongful actions by a number workers who claim that their work exposes them to toxic substances. Eight lawsuits were filed in 2018. In one of these cases, the wife of a Waycross man claimed that his work as a machinist on the railroad was the cause of stomach cancer that caused his death in 2014. Other lawsuits claim exposure to diesel exhaust, benzene, creosote, herbicides, weed killers, and asbestos.
Diesel Exhaust
The fumes of diesel trains contain cancer-causing chemical compounds like benzene. It is a clear flammable liquid that is used in various solvents and lubricants. It can also be found in diesel exhaust that railway workers like conductors and engineers are exposed to regularly. Benzene is a carcinogen and exposure to it could cause leukemia and blood system cancers.
Other cancer-causing substances that railroad workers are exposed include creosote as well as coal tar. Creosote, a fatty liquid that is used to treat railroad ties is a known carcinogen. It is a cancer-causing chemical that railroad workers can inhale. According to a 38-year study it's responsible for around 40 percent of lung cancers among American railway workers.
Exposure to diesel exhaust may also increase the risk of multiple myeloma. The cancer affects bone marrow and can influence the production of plasma. Diesel exhaust can also be a source of particulate matter, which can decrease lung function and result in chronic respiratory disease mortality, independent of smoking.
If you are a current or former railroad worker who has been diagnosed with blood cancer or another disease that could be caused due to exposure to benzene asbestos, or other toxic workplace substances, call Hughes Law Offices today to discuss your case with an experienced railroad lawyer. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railroad workers to seek compensation from their employers when they have been negligent and caused an illness at work.