Railroad Settlement For Emphysema
Emphysema results from years of exposure to toxic gases and fumes. Our FELA law firm can assist those who suffer from occupational diseases in filing claims.
Emphysema patients usually rely on railroad settlements to pay for hospitalization, surgery and therapy expenses associated with the condition. The condition of the lung can be caused by a variety of inhaled particles, including diesel exhaust, silica sand and asbestos.
Silica Sand
Silica can be found in the earth's crust as tiny granules. It is made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) which has unique crystal structure that gives it its hardness and other characteristics. It is utilized in construction.
Inhaling silica dust that is free can cause silicosis. It is an occupational lung disease that causes the death of the lung. It occurs when tiny pieces of crystallized silica enter the lungs and cause inflammation and scarring. As time passes, fibrosis develops around the silica particles, and the lungs become permanently scarred. This can make breathing very difficult, and can result in emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis, or lung cancer.
Rail workers can be exposed in different ways to crystalline silicon, including through drilling and hammering rock containing silica, performing abrasive blasting and working with concrete or the masonry materials. Other sources include sand, rice hulls and other plant tissues that contain silica, as well as certain types of paints.
The smallest silica particles are breathed deep into the lungs and cause harm. Railroads must safeguard their employees from silica by limiting the time they spend in locations with significant airborne dust. The railroads should also provide mouthpieces and footwear that are sand-free for employees who use equipment that creates sand the air. Trains should also be equipped with filters to keep sand from entering the cab.
Welding Fumes
When you think of welding, it is possible that you envision welding professionals who are surrounded by sparkling sparks and elegant curled fumes. The romantic picture quickly fades when you think about the effect of the fumes that are released into the air on workers' health.
The fumes from welding are a poisonous mixture of gases, metal particles, and other chemicals. The mixture of elements can affect a welder’s health, both in long-term and short-term exposure. The exact composition of welding fumes is contingent on a number of factors, including the type and coatings of metal being welded and the gas used to shield the metal.
In spite of the composition of welding fumes, a typical result for the welder is metal fume fever. It is characterised by flu-like symptoms like fatigue, chills and pain. These symptoms also include an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth as well as general feeling of being unwell.
The exposure to welding fumes could be minimized by a variety of controls, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV), respiratory protective equipment and mechanical general ventilation. However, it is important to note that these measures should be viewed as a last resort solution. If welding fume levels can't be controlled using these methods then an COSHH evaluation should be conducted to identify appropriate controls. This includes estimating the amount of exposure and considering what steps should be taken to limit it if preventing it is not feasible.
Diesel Exhaust
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of "cleaner" engines for trucks and other types of vehicles. Those who work in the fields of agriculture and construction, or other services where large equipment burns fuel, remain exposed to the dangerous fumes. These fumes contain a myriad of harmful chemicals that have a damaging effect on the skin, lungs and internal organs.
Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently inhaled by railroad employees who operate trains. Additionally, shop employees who must remain in the locomotive while it is in the shops may also be exposed to the toxic fumes.
The diesel exhaust generated by diesel engines consists of unburned fuel and many harmful chemicals. These chemicals include particulate matter (soot), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons. Inhaling railroad injury settlement amounts of these pollutants could result in respiratory symptoms like a snoring cough as well as irritation in the throat and nose, and shortness of breathe. It can also cause the accumulation of fluid inside the lungs.
Studies of diesel exhaust have shown that it can 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 for humans.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a hazard that was previously employed in the railroad industry. It was tough and resistant to corrosion. It was also an excellent insulator. It was also inexpensive to make and simple to install in rail cars. However, asbestos has been linked to a variety of kinds of lung cancer as well as other illnesses. The mesothelioma experts at Simmons Hanly Conroy understand the effects of asbestos exposure on railroad workers' lives and health. We assist injured railroad employees file FELA lawsuits to receive financial compensation for their illnesses and injuries.
Research has found that railroad workers are at a higher risk of mesothelioma, as well as other asbestos-related diseases than others in the workforce. This is especially true for those who have been employed prior to the 1950s when railroads began operating using diesel engines instead steam. These older workers could have been exposed when they built, repaired or sanded rail vehicles, ties, and locomotives made from this flammable material.
Because asbestos-related cancers and mesothelioma have a long dormancy period, many injured railroad workers didn't know they had a condition until years after exposure. If you have a respiratory illness like COPD lung carcinoma, COPD or mesothelioma related to your work in the railroad industry it is imperative that you consult mesothelioma lawyers immediately.