Railroad Settlement For Emphysema
Emphysema can be a result of years of exposure to toxic gases and fumes. Our FELA firm assists them with filing occupational disease claims.
Colon cancer lawsuit settlements rely on the compensation of a railroad settlement to pay for hospitals, surgical and other costs associated with their condition. Many different types of inhaled particulates can cause this lung condition including silica sand, diesel exhaust as well as asbestos.
Silica Sand
Silica is a natural substance that exists in the earth as tiny pieces of. It is made up of silicon dioxide (SiO2) that has an unique crystal lattice structure which gives it its hardness and other properties. It is used in construction.
Inhaling silica dust that is free can cause silicosis, an occupational lung disease that leads to the death of the lung. Small particles of crystalline silicon enter the lungs, and cause inflammation and scarring. As time passes, fibrosis grows around the silica particles, and the lungs become permanently scarred. This makes breathing very difficult and may lead to emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
Rail workers are exposed in many ways to crystalline silicon, including by hammering and drilling silica-rich rocks, blasting with abrasive and using concrete or masonry materials. Other sources of crystalline silica are rice hulls and sand along with other plant tissues containing silica as well as various types of paints.
The smallest particles of silica can be inhaled deep into the lungs where they cause serious harm. As a result, the railroads must ensure that employees are protected from exposure to silica by limiting their time in areas with significant airborne sand. Railroads should also be sure to provide sandless shoes and mouthpieces for employees who will be using equipment that produces airborne sand. Additionally, trains must be outfitted with filters that stop the sand from entering the cabin.
Welding Fumes
When you think of welding, it is likely you'll see an energetic welder surrounded by sparkling sparks and graceful curled fume. When you think about the consequences of these fumes on the body, this romantic image is quickly shattered.
Welding fume can be toxic because it is a combination of metal particles, chemicals and gases. This mix of elements impacts a welder's health over both long and short exposures. The exact makeup of welding fumes is determined by many factors, including the type of metal being welded and the coatings and paint on the metal, as well as the gas used for shielding.
Metal fume fever is a typical manifestation of welding fumes. It is characterized by flu-like symptoms like fatigue as well as chills and aches. Colon cancer lawsuit settlements can also include an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth as well as general feeling of being unwell.
Exposure to welding fume can be reduced using a range of control measures that include local exhaust ventilation (LEV), respiratory protective equipment, and mechanical general air ventilation. It is essential to keep in mind that these methods are only to be used as a last-resort. If welding fumes can't be controlled with these methods, then it is recommended that a COSHH Assessment is required to determine the proper controls. This involves estimating the risk and determining what steps are required to limit it should prevention not be feasible.
Diesel Exhaust
In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of "cleaner" engines for trucks and other types of vehicles. However, union pacific settlements who work in the fields of construction, agriculture and other services that utilize large machinery that burns diesel fuel are still exposed to the dangerous fume. These fumes are full of hundreds of harmful chemicals that could cause damage to the skin, lungs, and internal organs.
Railroad workers who operate trains are typically exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines from locomotives when they drive down the track or in the engine cab. Additionally, railroad shop workers who are required to remain inside the locomotive when it is in the shops might also be exposed the toxic fumes.
Diesel exhaust from diesel engines contains unburned gasoline along with toxic chemicals. These chemicals include particulate (soot) nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. Breathing in high levels of these contaminants can result in respiratory symptoms such as a cough and irritation in the throat and nose and a shortness of breath. It can also lead to an accumulation in the lung.
Studies on diesel exhaust have shown that it can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer in people. This has led the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) to declare diesel exhaust carcinogenic to humans.
Asbestos
Asbestos was once a popular material used in the railroad industry. It was tough and resistant to corrosion. It also served as an excellent insulator. It was easy to install and affordable to make. Asbestos has unfortunately been linked to lung cancer, as well as other illnesses. The mesothelioma attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy are familiar with the effect asbestos exposure has on a railroader's health and quality of life. We assist railroad workers who have been injured file FELA suits to receive the financial compensation they deserve for their illness.
Studies have found that railroad workers are at a higher risk of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses than the general workforce. This is particularly applicable to those who were employed prior to 1950, when railroads changed from steam to diesel engines. The older workers may have been exposed to asbestos when they were building or repairing rail ties, rail cars and locomotives constructed from asbestos. The material is deadly.
Since asbestos-related diseases and mesothelioma have a long time of dormancy that many railroad workers did not recognize they had an illness until decades after their exposure. If you suffer from an underlying respiratory disease such as COPD, lung cancer or mesothelioma related to your previous employment on the railroad, it's essential to consult a skilled mesothelioma lawyer right away.