Railroad Settlement For Emphysema
Emphysema is a result of years of exposure to toxic fumes and gases. Our FELA firm assists them in filing occupational disease claims.
Emphysema patients typically rely on the compensation they receive from railroad settlement s to pay for treatment, hospitalization and costs associated with the condition. Different types of inhaled particulates can cause the condition, such as silica sand, diesel exhaust, and asbestos.
Silica Sand
Silica is a mineral that exists in the earth as small particles. It is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) that has a unique crystal structure that gives it its toughness and other properties. It is utilized in construction.
Inhaling free silica dust can cause silicosis. It is an occupational lung disease that causes the death of the lung. Small particles of crystalline silicon enter the lungs, and cause inflammation and scarring. As time passes, fibrosis begins to develop around the silica particle and the lungs are permanently scarred. This makes breathing very difficult and can lead to tuberculosis or bronchitis, or lung cancer.
Rail workers are exposed in a variety of ways to crystalline silicon, including by hammering and drilling silica-rich rock, abrasive blasting and working with concrete or other masonry materials. Other sources of crystalline silica include rice hulls and sand as well as other plant tissues containing silica as well as various types of paints.
The smallest silica particles are inhaled deeply into the lungs and can cause damage. Railroads need to protect their workers from silica by limiting the amount of time they spend in locations with significant dust from the air. Railroads should also provide sandless footwear and mouthpieces for employees who work with equipment that creates sand in the air. Additionally, trains must be outfitted with filters that will prevent the dispersal of sand into the cabin.
Welding Fumes
When you think of welding, it is likely that you will see an experienced welder, surrounded by sparkling sparks and elegant curled fume. If you think about the effects of these fumes, this romantic image is quickly shattered.
Welding fume is a harmful mixture of metal particles, chemicals and gases. This mix of elements could cause health problems for welders, both in short-term and long-term exposure. The exact composition of welding fumes will depend on many factors including the type of metal to be welded as well as the coatings and paint on the metal, and the gas used for shielding.
Metal fume fever is a frequent manifestation of welding fumes. It is characterized by flu like symptoms such as fatigue chills, aches and chills. These symptoms include an metallic taste in your mouth, and a general feeling that you are not well.
The exposure to welding fumes may be minimized by a range of measures to control the fumes, including local exhaust ventilators (LEV) and respiratory protection equipment, and mechanical general ventilation. It is crucial to remember that these measures should only be used as a last resort. Where welding fume levels cannot be controlled by these methods, an COSHH evaluation should be conducted to identify the appropriate controls. This includes estimating the amount of exposure and determining what steps are required to reduce it if prevention is not reasonable.
Diesel Exhaust
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of "cleaner" engines for vehicles and trucks. For those who work in the fields of agriculture and construction as well as other sectors which rely on large equipment that burns fuel, remain exposed to the harmful fumes. The fumes are a mixture of hundreds of harmful chemicals which could cause damage to the skin as well as the lungs and internal organs.
Railroad workers who operate trains are frequently exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines from locomotives when they drive down the track or in the engine cab. In addition, railroad shop workers who have to remain inside the locomotive when it is in the shops may also be exposed to the toxic fumes.
The diesel exhaust that is released from diesel engines contains fuel that is not burned as well as a host of toxic chemicals. These chemicals comprise particulate (soot) hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Breathing in high concentrations of these substances can cause respiratory symptoms such as coughing irritation of the nose and throat and shortness of breath. It can also cause the accumulation of fluid inside the lungs.
Studies on diesel exhaust have shown that it can increase the risk of developing lung cancer in people. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, has classified diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a hazardous material which was once used in the railroad industry. It was strong and resistant to corrosion. It was also an excellent insulator. It was also affordable to manufacture and easy to install in rail cars. Asbestos is a known contributor to 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 help railroad workers who have been injured to file FELA lawsuits to obtain an amount of money for their ailments.
Research has shown that railroad workers are at an increased risk of contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases than others in the workforce. This is especially relevant to those who worked before the 1950s, when railroads began operating using diesel engines instead steam. The older workers may have been exposed to asbestos while they were building repairs or sanding rail cars, ties, and locomotives that were made with asbestos, a deadly material.
Because mesothelioma and asbestos-related illnesses have a long dormancy period, many injured railroad workers did not recognize they had an illness until decades after their exposure. If you suffer from a respiratory disease such as COPD lung carcinoma, COPD, or mesothelioma connected to your railroad work it is essential that you seek out an attorney for mesothelioma immediately.