If you were diagnosed with cancer after working in the railroad industry, a FELA attorney may be able to help you recover compensation under federal law.

Railroad workers are routinely exposed to dangerous chemicals that have been linked with serious diseases such as cancer. Railroad companies who were responsible for providing a safe work environment may be in violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) by routinely exposing their employees to dangerous chemicals without warning them or providing safety measures.

FELA was enacted in 1908 to protect and compensate railroad workers who were injured on the job. In order to receive benefits under FELA, an injured worker must due for damages in a state or federal court. An experienced FELA attorney can evaluate personal cases to see if individuals qualify for legal action against their employers.

Railroad Carcinogens

One dangerous chemical that railroad workers are often exposed to is called benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen created by the burning of diesel fuel. Although benzene was banned in consumer products over 20 years ago in the United States, it was commonly used as an industrial solvent or an additive in diesel fuel until it was banned and can still be found in many railroad products.

After being aerosolized by the burning of diesel fuel, benzene can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Benzene exposure has been linked to bladder cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, throat cancer, and more.

Another harmful railroad carcinogen is creosote. Creosote is a combination of chemicals created during the distillation of tar. The substance is often used as a wood preservative on outdoor wood products such as railroad ties.

There is evidence that prolonged exposure to creosote may cause skin cancer and cancer of the scrotum and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies creosote as a probable carcinogen.

Chemical solvents may cause chronic toxic encephalopathy, solvent neurotoxicity, and other brain diseases. Chemical solvents play a key role in the quality and durability of paints and varnishes. Vapors from solvents can be inhaled which can cause neurological diseases.

Chronic toxic encephalopathy is a syndrome associated with personality change, memory impairment, and neurological deficits. Individuals with solvent neurotoxicity can develop cerebral atrophy, white matter lesions, and neurological symptoms as the condition progresses. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis have also been linked to chronic exposure to chemical solvents.

Railroad workers who were diagnosed with cancer may assume they developed cancer because of family history or another explanation, but in reality, hazardous chemical exposure during their railroad career could have been a contributing factor.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness and worked on a railroad for more than five years, you may qualify for legal action and compensation. A FELA attorney can help employees who worked in unsafe environments seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more. These lawsuits often do not require out-of-pocket costs on behalf of the railroad worker.