Railroad Settlement For Emphysema

Emphysema results from years of exposure to toxic gases and fumes. Our FELA firm assists them with filing occupational disease claims.

Emphysema sufferers often depend on the compensation of an agreement with railroads to pay for medical, surgical and therapeutic costs relating to their condition. Different types of inhaled particulates can cause this lung condition, including silica sand, diesel exhaust, and asbestos.

Silica Sand

Silica is present in the earth's crust as small granules. It is a product of silicon dioxide (SiO2) which has a unique lattice crystal structure that gives it hardness and other properties. It is employed in the construction industry.

Inhaling silica dust could cause silicosis. This is an occupational lung disease that can lead the death of the lungs. Small pieces of silicon enter the lungs and cause inflammation and scarring. As time passes, pulmonary fibrosis caused by railroad how to get a settlement forms around the silica particle, and the lungs are permanently scarred. This makes breathing extremely difficult and can lead to emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis or lung cancer.

Railroad workers can be exposed to crystalline silica in many different ways, like drilling or hammering rock that contains silica; performing abrasive blasting; and working using masonry and concrete. Other sources include rice hulls, sand rail road and other plant tissues that contain silica and some types of paints.

The tiniest silica particles are breathed deep into the lungs, where they cause damage. Railroads must safeguard their workers from silica by limiting how long they spend in areas with significant dust from the air. The railroads should also provide mouthpieces and shoes that are sand-free to workers who are using equipment that creates sand in the air. In addition, trains should be equipped with filters to prevent the sand from getting into the cab.

Welding Fumes

When you think of welding, it is likely that you see an energetic welder surrounded by sparkling sparks and elegant curled fumes. The romantic picture quickly fades when you consider the negative effects of these fumes on workers' health.

Welding fume is a harmful mixture of metal particles, gases and chemicals. This mix of elements could affect the health of a welder, both in long-term and short-term exposure. The exact composition of welding fumes is contingent on several factors, including the type and coatings of metal being welded, as well as the shielding gases used.

Whatever the composition of the welding fumes, a typical consequence for the welder can be metal fume fever, characterised by flu-like symptoms such as chills, fatigue and pain. The symptoms can are also accompanied by a metallic taste in the mouth as well as general feeling of being unwell.

The exposure to welding fumes can be reduced by a variety of control measures such as local exhaust ventilators (LEV) and respiratory protection equipment, and mechanical general ventilation. However, it is important to keep in mind that these measures should be considered as a last resort measure. If welding fumes cannot be controlled by these methods, then an COSHH Assessment should be performed to determine the proper measures. This includes estimating the amount of exposure and determining what steps should be taken to minimize the risk if it is not feasible.

Diesel Exhaust

In recent years there has been a rise in the use of "cleaner" engines for trucks and other vehicle types. For those who work in construction and agriculture as well as other sectors that use large equipment that burns fuel, are still exposed to dangerous fumes. These fumes contain hundreds of harmful chemicals which can have a damaging effect on the lungs, skin and internal organs.

Diesel exhaust fumes can be inhaled by railroad employees who operate trains. These harmful fumes can be inhaled by railroad shop workers, who may be forced to remain in the engine while it's in the shop.

The diesel exhaust generated by diesel engines consists of fuel that is not burned as well as numerous harmful chemicals. These chemicals comprise particulate (soot) hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Breathing high levels of these pollutants could cause respiratory symptoms such as a cough and irritation in the nose and throat and a shortness of breath. It may also trigger a buildup of fluid in the lungs.

Studies on diesel exhaust have shown that it may also increase the risk of developing lung cancer in humans. This has led to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) to declare diesel exhaust carcinogenic to humans.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a hazard that was previously used in the railroad back injury settlements industry. It was strong, corrosion-resistant and a superb insulation. It was also affordable to produce and rail road easy to install in rail cars. Asbestos is a known contributor to lung cancer and a variety of other diseases. The mesothelioma attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy are familiar of the effects asbestos exposure has on a railroader's health and quality of life. We assist railroad workers who have been injured file FELA lawsuits to obtain the financial compensation they deserve for their illness.

Studies have shown that railroad workers have an increased risk of mesothelioma and asbestos-related illnesses than the general workforce. This is particularly the case for those who worked before the 1950s, when trains began to run on diesel engines, instead of steam. The older workers could have been exposed to asbestos when they were building repairs or sanding Rail Road cars, ties, and locomotives made from asbestos, a deadly material.

Because asbestos-related cancers and mesothelioma have a long time of dormancy that many railroad back injury settlements workers did not realize they had a disease until years after exposure. If you have a respiratory condition like COPD or lung cancer, or mesothelioma related to your past work on the railroad, it's essential to speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer right away.