A Railroad Cancer Lawyer Can Help Workers Sue For Blood Cancer
Railroad employees who are exposed to a myriad of carcinogenic chemicals on their jobs face serious health dangers. If they are diagnosed with cancer or other chronic illness, a dedicated railroad cancer lawyer can assist them obtain compensation from their employer.
For example, CN rail yard workers have been exposed to wood preservative creosote for decades and some have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Research has connected the weedkiller, glyphosate with an increase in lung cancer risk.
Benzene
The chemical benzene has a clear liquid that has a sweet odor. It quickly evaporates in the air and can also be absorbed through the skin. union pacific railroad lawsuits is found in many products, such as solvents and lubricants. It is also found in gasoline and diesel. The World Health Organization has classified the carcinogenicity of benzene for humans. The exposure to benzene has been associated with various types of blood cancers such as acute myelogenous lymphoma (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 lead to blood tumors that affect the immune system and causing serious negative side effects. It can also affect the brain and nervous system. Over 200,000 railroad workers might be suffering from AML or other cancers of the blood because of their exposure to harmful chemicals while on the job.
In the past, railroad workers were exposed to diesel fumes, creosote, pesticides, herbicides, and asbestos. These carcinogens were employed in a variety of railyard jobs, such as maintaining track and other infrastructure. BNSF was mandated by federal law to safeguard workers from the dangers of these chemicals. This omission led to a number of cases of debilitating, long-term ailments. A lawyer can assist you to claim compensation for your injuries in accordance with FELA, or the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Creosote
Creosote is often used on wood treated by railroad workers. The toxic chemicals can penetrate the skin and begin to destroy cells. Exposure to toxic chemicals can cause blood cancers in railroad workers over time. Cancers can vary from acute leukemia to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myelodysplastic Syndrome to acute myeloid cancer. These chemicals can cause lung, skin and bladder cancer.
Railroad lawsuits assert that the railroad did not warn employees about the dangers and didn't take the necessary measures to protect them. Certain chemicals could cause skin burns. The symptoms of exposure to creosote are burning in the throat and mouth, the smell of smoke stomach pain and skin rash.
Recent instance involves a railroad employee who claims exposure to toxins, chemicals and other toxins has led to him to develop chronic health problems. He claims his job requires him to handle ties that were soaked in solvents and creosote. He also said that he was wearing gloves treated with creosote.
A jury has awarded a former railroad employee $7.5 million for injuries related to creosote exposure as well as other hazardous chemicals he was exposed to during his work. He filed a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act, alleging that the railroad did provide him with proper safety equipment.
Asbestos
Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals, including welding fumes, asbestos, diesel exhaust, and silica. This means that they are at risk for various diseases and illnesses. Lung cancer is one of the most common conditions however, other diseases and injuries have also been linked to railway jobs. A skilled railroad lawyer can assess the case of a worker and help him or her pursue the full amount of compensation to which they are entitled to under federal law.
Benzene is a chemical that was banned in the United States 20 years ago, but it's still found in solvents and degreasers used by railroad workers. It's a byproduct from diesel exhaust, and can cause anemia. Workers are also affected by lymphoma - cancer that affects blood cells.
A number of lawsuits have been filed against CSX Railroad Company by workers who claim that their jobs exposed to harmful 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 machinist on the railroad caused stomach cancer which led to his death in 2014. Several other lawsuits allege exposure to diesel exhaust, benzene creosote herbicides, weed killers, and asbestos.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel train fumes are packed with cancer-causing chemicals like benzene. Benzene, a clear liquid that is flame-resistant, is used an lubricant and solvent. It can also be found in diesel exhaust, which railway workers like conductors and engineers are regularly exposed to. Benzene is a carcinogen and exposure to it could cause blood system leukemia and cancers.
Other cancer-causing substances 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 recognized carcinogen, which is inhaled by railroad workers. It is the cause of around 40 percent of lung cancers that occur among American railroad workers in an analysis of 38 years.
Exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of multiple myeloma. This cancer affects bone marrow and may affect the production of plasma. Diesel exhaust is also a major source of particulate matter, which can reduce lung function and lead to chronic respiratory disease mortality, independent of smoking.
Hughes Law Offices can help you if you're an employee of a railroad or a former railroad employee who has been diagnosed with a blood cancer, or a different disease that could be the result of exposure to benzene or asbestos or other harmful substances in the workplace. Contact Hughes Law Offices to discuss your case today with a knowledgeable railroad lawyer. The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad employees to claim compensation if their employers are guilty of negligence that causes an workplace disease.