Railroad Negligence and COPD
Federal Employers Liability (FELA) can provide compensation to someone who contracted COPD due to the negligence of a railroad company. This can help pay for hospital as well as surgical and therapeutic treatment. It also covers the costs related to the loss of life or disability.
A FELA lawyer can review your case to determine whether you have a valid reason to file an occupational illness claim.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is one of the asbestos groups of minerals. It was once employed as a fire-repellant and a corrosion-resistant material. Asbestos breaks down into tiny fine fibers, which can be inhaled. Inhaling these fibers significantly increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer that is found in the lining that protects the lungs and other organs) and asbestosis (scarring of lung tissue).
Railroad workers were exposed to asbestos in their work at repair shops as well as track maintenance yards in the cabins of locomotive crew members. They also were likely to bring asbestos-containing items with them home. Asbestos is extremely dangerous because it releases toxic substances when it is broken down. These toxins can lead to serious health problems.
A railroad conductor recently filed an action against his former employer under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). The plaintiff claimed that years spent in the cabs of diesel locomotives caused his chronic asthma and COPD. He also claimed to inhale sulfur smoke, dioxins, creosote exhaust and fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, as well as dioxins and creosote every day, without any protection. He suffered from serious health issues that made it difficult to work and caused him to incur expenses in the form of surgical, medical, hospital and therapeutic expenses.
Diesel Exhaust
For decades railroad workers were exposed to many toxic substances such as solvents, coal and diesel exhaust. Numerous studies have linked lung diseases and cancer with exposure to long-term exposure.
Diesel exhaust contains a variety of chemical compounds including carbon monoxide, particulates and hydrocarbons. It also produces Ozone at the ground level, which decreases visibility. It also causes acid rain that can damage lakes and crops and can enter the human food chain through fish, meat and water. It can also trigger asthma and respiratory illnesses as well as worsen heart and lung conditions.
According to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, individuals who worked in occupations that required long-term exposure to diesel fumes were found to have a 2.5 percent higher COPD mortality rate than those who didn't work in such jobs. Researchers employed proportional hazards models to estimate incidence rates and adjusted for smoking status year, calendar year and the number of years off from work to reduce bias due to the healthy worker survivor effect.
Exposure to diesel fumes can also cause toxic encephalopathy. This condition is characterized as brain damage caused by small amounts of chemicals. These chemicals can get into the bloodstream or absorbed by the skin. They then move to the brain, where they disrupt its normal functioning. Memory loss and trouble concentrating are signs of this condition.
Smoke from tobacco
You may have been exposed to smoke while working in the railroad. Inhaling environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) can increase the risk of developing COPD. This includes not just smoking your own cigarettes but as well inhaling smoke from who smokes a cigar, cigarette or pipe. This is known as passive smoking or secondhand smoke.
ETS contains toxic chemicals in particulates and gasses. Its corrosive brew can cause damage to the respiratory system, the heart and blood vessels. It can cause cancer and interfere with normal cell growth. It can lead to digestive problems, including stomach ulcers and inflammatory colon diseases. It can reduce bone density, resulting in osteoporosis. It may slow healing of wounds and increase infection risk.
It can even make a pregnancy risky for the mother as well as the fetus. Women who smoke or use products that are not tobacco-free during pregnancy have an increased risk of pregnancies that are ectopic, which is a life-threatening situation in which the fertilized egg connects to the outside of the uterus. This can lead to miscarriage and premature birth.
In a recent study, researchers found that rail workers who were exposed to diesel exhaust and tobacco smoke were significantly more susceptible to COPD symptoms than those who didn't work on railways. The study used data from death certificate or industrial hygiene surveys and multiple imputation in order to calculate the history of smoking. This method reduces the impact of confounding factors that could have affected the results.
Incorrect diagnosis
Many railroad workers are diagnosed with obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after years of breathing diesel exhaust, coal dust and other pollutants while on the job. The long-term exposures can cause damage to the lungs, and some of the symptoms may not become apparent until the late stages of the condition. A precise diagnosis is essential to ensure that patients receive treatment earlier that will enhance their quality of life and even extend it.
A wrong or delayed diagnosis can deteriorate a patient's condition and cause other complications. A Philadelphia lawyer who has a wrong diagnosis will investigate your case and identify medical providers who may be held liable for malpractice. This includes doctors, nurses practitioner, physician assistants and technologists.
union pacific settlements has suggested that the guidelines for diagnosing COPD are flawed, leading in some cases to a false diagnosis. Researchers examined electronic health records and notes from clinical studies of more than 200 000 patients. The researchers found that physicians overdiagnose COPD and overestimate the frequency of the condition in their patients. They also discovered that they underestimate the severity of symptoms.
Federal Employers Liability Act lawsuits can be used to hold employers accountable for exposing their employees to toxic chemicals that can cause lung diseases like COPD and Mesothelioma. FELA allows railroad workers who have been injured to sue after the statute of limitation expires.