A new railroad cancer lawsuit was recently filed against BNSF Railway Company, from a widower alleging that the chemicals from the railroad yard caused the death of his wife. The railroad cancer lawsuit is brought by an Arizona man who states his wife was exposed to hazardous materials and chemicals that directly caused his wife’s lung cancer death.

Plaintiff Dale B. is filing the railroad cancer lawsuit on behalf of his late wife Cathy B., who had previously worked at BNSF Railway Company. Dale alleges that due to the dangerous chemicals Cathy was exposed to on a regular basis while working, she developed cancer and ultimately died.

According to the railroad cancer lawsuit, Cathy worked for BNSF Railway between 1979 and 2012 as a laborer in the company’s Alliance Yard facility in Nebraska.

Cathy’s occupational duties consisted of cleaning and spotting locomotives in the railroad yard, which ultimately caused her to be exposed to various toxic substances and carcinogens including but not limited to: solvents, diesel exhaust, benzene, creosote, silica and mineral dust or fibers.

More specifically, Cathy was primarily exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust, benzene, and solvents from cleaning solutions. The lawsuit alleges that, due to regular exposure of these materials, Cathy developed lung cancer and ultimately died from the disease in December 2014. Dale opted to file the railroad cancer lawsuit less than three years after discovering his wife’s illness could have been caused by the chemicals she was exposed to in the rail yard.

Overview of Railroad Cancer Problems

The railroad industry has become infamous for serious work-related injuries and illnesses, caused by the dangerous environment for employees. Toxic chemicals like benzene and asbestos are used, causing numerous employees to suffer regular exposure. This often causes occupational cancer to develop. These cancers include but are not limited to:

• Bladder Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Kidney Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Laryngeal Cancer
• Rectal Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Throat Cancer
• Leukemia

The toxic chemicals railroad workers are often exposed to include benzene and asbestos. Benzene is a by-product of diesel exhaust and is often utilized as a degreasing solvent for locomotives. This is a highly dangerous chemical which can be absorbed through the skin.

Asbestos is another dangerous substance railroad workers are exposed to, which is a fibrous material that was often utilized for insulation purposes. Asbestos was primarily utilized in locomotive components between the 1930s to the 1970s, with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) heavily restricting its use in the 1970s.

However, railroad companies still use asbestos on a regular basis, resulting in numerous employees inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. Under federal law, railroad companies are supposed to provide protective equipment to employees and disclose potential exposure to hazardous materials.

Dale is filing this railroad cancer lawsuit alleging BNSF Railway Company failed in its duty to prevent his wife’s death.

This Railroad Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 8:17-cv-00491-JMG-CRZ, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska.