Railroad Settlement For Emphysema
Railroad workers suffer from emphysema due to years of exposure to toxic fumes, dust and gases. Our FELA firm assists them in filing occupational disease claims.
Emphysema patients often rely on an agreement with railroads to pay for the hospital, surgical and therapeutic costs relating to their condition. There are a variety of different kinds of inhaled particulates may cause this lung condition including silica sand, diesel exhaust as well as asbestos.
Silica Sand
Silica is found in the earth's crust as small pieces of. It is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2), which has an unique crystal lattice structure which gives it its hardness and other properties. It is commonly used in construction.
Inhaling silica dust could cause silicosis. This is an occupational lung disease that can lead to the death of the lungs. Small particles of crystalline silicon can enter the lungs and cause inflammation and scarring. Over time, fibrosis forms around the silica particles and the lungs are permanently scarred. This can lead to lung cancer, emphysema and bronchitis.
Railroad workers may be exposed to crystalline silica in a variety of different ways, like hammering or drilling rock that is silica-rich; blasting with abrasive; and working using masonry and concrete. Other sources include rice hulls, sand and other plant tissues that contain silica and certain paints.
The tiniest silica particles are breathed deep into the lungs, where they cause damage. This is why railroads should make sure that employees are protected from exposure to silica, including limiting time in areas that have significant airborne sand. Railroads should also offer mouthpieces and footwear made of sand for employees who work with equipment that creates sand in the air. Trains should also come with filters to prevent sand from entering the cabin.
Welding Fumes
When you think of welding, it is possible that you envision welding professionals who are surrounded by sparkling sparks and elegant curled fume. When you think about the consequences of these fumes, the romantic image is quickly destroyed.
Welding fumes are a toxic mixture of gasses, metal particles and chemicals. This mix of elements impacts the health of welders over long and short exposures. The exact makeup of welding fumes depends on a variety of factors that include the type of metal to be welded as well as the coatings and paint on the metal, as well as the shielding gas used.
Metal fume fever is a frequent sign of welding fumes. It is characterized by flu like symptoms such as fatigue as well as chills and aches. These symptoms also include a sour metallic taste in the mouth, as well as a general feeling of unwellness.
The risk of exposure to welding fumes may be reduced by a variety of controls, including local exhaust ventilators (LEV) as well as respiratory protection equipment and mechanical general ventilation. It is essential to keep in mind that these options are only to be used as a last-resort. If welding fume levels can't be controlled with these methods it is recommended that an COSHH assessment should be completed to determine the appropriate controls. This involves estimating exposure and determining what steps need to be taken to reduce it if preventing it is not reasonably practicable.
Diesel Exhaust
In recent time, there has been a move to use "cleaner" diesel engines for trucks and other vehicles. For union pacific settlements who work in agriculture and construction or other fields which require large equipment that burns fuel, are still exposed to the harmful fumes. These fumes contain hundreds of harmful chemicals that can cause harm to the skin, lungs, and internal organs.
Railroad employees who operate trains are frequently exposed to diesel exhaust fumes from locomotives while they travel across the track or return in the engine cab. union pacific settlements can be inhaled by railway shop workers, who might be forced to remain in the engine while it's in the shop.
Diesel exhaust from diesel engines contains gasoline that has not been burnt along with toxic chemicals. These chemicals include particulate (soot) as well as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. Breathing in high concentrations of these pollutants can lead to respiratory symptoms such as coughing and irritation in the throat and nose and shortness of breath. It may also cause a buildup in the lungs.
Research has shown that diesel exhaust may increase the risk for lung cancer in humans. This has led to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) to classify diesel exhaust as carcinogenic for humans.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a dangerous material that was once commonly employed in the railroad industry. It was strong, corrosion-resistant and an excellent insulation. It was simple to install and inexpensive to manufacture. However, railroad injury settlement amounts has been linked to a variety of kinds of lung cancers and other illnesses. The mesothelioma experts at Simmons Hanly Conroy understand the consequences of asbestos exposure to a railroad worker's life and health. We assist injured railroad employees with filing FELA lawsuits in order to get financial compensation for their illnesses and injuries.
Railroad workers are at a greater risk of mesothelioma or asbestos-related diseases, and other illnesses than the rest of the workforce. This is particularly the case for those who worked before 1950, when trains changed from steam to diesel engines. These workers of the past might have been exposed if they built, repaired or sanded rail cars railroad ties, and locomotives constructed of this dangerous material.
Because mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases have a long dormancy period and many railroad workers who were injured didn't realize they had a disease until decades after their exposure. If you suffer from a respiratory condition like COPD or lung cancer, or mesothelioma that is related to your previous work on the railroad, it's crucial to speak with a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible.