Railroad Settlement For Emphysema
Emphysema is the result of years of exposure to toxic fumes and gases. Our FELA law firm assists workers in filing occupational illness claims.
Emphysema patients often rely on the compensation of railroad settlements to pay for medical, surgical and therapeutic costs associated with their condition. This lung condition can be caused by a range of inhaled particles, including diesel exhaust, silica sand and asbestos.
Silica Sand
Silica is present in the Earth's crust in tiny particles. It is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) It has an unusual crystal lattice arrangement that gives it its toughness and other properties. It is employed in the construction industry.
Inhaling silica dust can cause silicosis. This is an occupational lung disease that can lead the death of the lung. It occurs when small particles of crystallized silica enter the lungs which causes inflammation and scarring. Over time, fibrosis grows around the silica molecule and the lungs are permanently damaged. This makes breathing very difficult and may lead to tuberculosis, bronchitis and emphysem or lung cancer.
Rail workers can be exposed in a variety of ways to crystalline silicon including by hammering and drilling silica-rich rock, blasting with abrasive and using concrete or other masonry materials. Other sources include rice hulls, sand and other plant tissues that contain silica, and some types of paints.
The smallest particles of silica get absorbed into the lungs, where they cause significant damage. As a result, the railroads must ensure that employees are protected from exposure to silica, including limiting time in areas that have significant airborne sand. Railroads should also offer mouthpieces and shoes that are sand-free to employees who use equipment that creates sand the air. Moreover, trains should be equipped with filters that stop the sand from getting into the cab.
Welding Fumes
When you think of welding, it is likely that you envision a hard-working welder with sparkling sparks and a graceful curling fumes. If you think about the effects of these fumes, this romantic image is quickly shattered.
Welding fumes can be toxic mixture of gasses, metal particles and chemicals. This mix of elements could impact the health of welders both in long-term and short-term exposure. The exact makeup of welding fumes depends on a variety of factors, including the type of metal to be welded and the coatings and paint on the metal, and the gas used to shield it.
Metal fume fever is a typical sign of welding fumes. It is characterized by flu-like symptoms like fatigue as well as chills and aches. The symptoms include metallic taste in the mouth, and the general feeling that you're not well.
Exposure to welding fume can be reduced by a variety of controls that include 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 fumes cannot be prevented by these methods then an COSHH assessment should be conducted to determine the proper control measures. This includes estimating the amount of exposure and determining what steps are needed to limit it, should prevention not be feasible.
Diesel Exhaust
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of "cleaner" engines for trucks and other types of vehicles. For those who work in the fields of agriculture and construction or other fields that use large equipment that burns fuel, are exposed to dangerous fumes. These fumes contain a myriad of harmful chemicals that can cause harm to the skin, lungs and internal organs.
Diesel exhaust fumes are frequently inhaled by railroad employees who operate trains. Additionally, shop workers who have to remain in the locomotive while it is in the shops are also exposed to the toxic fumes.
The diesel exhaust released from diesel engines is made up of unburned fuel as well as several harmful chemicals. These chemicals include particulate (soot) hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Breathing in high levels of these pollutants can result in respiratory symptoms such as coughing, irritation in the nose and throat, and shortness of breathe. It can also cause an increase in fluids in the lungs.
Studies have shown that diesel exhaust can increase the risk for lung cancer in human beings. This has prompted the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) to classify diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans.
Asbestos
Asbestos used to be a common material in the railroad industry. It was durable and resistant to corrosion. It also served as an excellent insulation. It was also cheap to make and simple to install in rail automobiles. However, asbestos has been linked with different types of lung cancer and other illnesses. The mesothelioma attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy are familiar of the effects asbestos exposure has on a railroader's health and life. union pacific settlements assist railroad workers who have been injured claim FELA suits to receive the financial compensation they deserve for their illness.
Railroad workers are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestos-related diseases and other diseases than the general workforce. This is especially true for those who have worked prior to 1950, when trains started to run on diesel engines, instead of steam. Multiple myeloma settlements of the past may have been exposed to asbestos when they were building or repairing rail cars, ties and locomotives that were made with asbestos. Multiple myeloma settlements is a dangerous material.
Because mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases have a long time of dormancy that many railroad workers didn't know they had a condition until decades after their exposure. If you suffer from a respiratory condition such as COPD, lung carcinoma or mesothelioma linked to your railroad work it is essential that you consult mesothelioma lawyers immediately.