Former railroad workers are filing FELA railroad claims after being diagnosed with cancer, allegedly caused by exposure to dangerous chemicals on the job.

Railroad companies are responsible for giving workers a safe environment to work in and the proper equipment to deal with unsafe materials, but more and more railroad workers are coming forward with reports that they were exposed to chemicals like creosote or benzene on the railroad, in violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

If you have been diagnosed with cancer after working on the railroad, you may be able to file FELA railroad claims.

Railroad Worker Cancer

Time spent on the railroad and with railroad materials can expose workers to a variety of dangerous chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, or capable of causing cancer. One of the more dangerous chemicals railroad workers can be exposed to is benzene, a known carcinogen.

Benzene is a chemical commonly found in railroad products and materials, and was classified as a known carcinogen by a number of agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Though the use of benzene has been banned in the United States for over twenty years because of its link to cancer, many railroad materials are still made with this dangerous chemical, increasing workers’ risk of cancers associated with benzene exposure.

Another serious railroad cancer risk is creosote. Creosote, also known as coal tar, is used to coat railroad ties. Long-term exposure to creosote has been associated with skin cancer.

Railroad workers exposed to dangerous chemicals on the job may be at risk of developing a variety of serious cancers, including but not limited to the following:

• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Colon cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Throat cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Mesothelioma
• Multiple myeloma
• Leukemia

FELA Railroad Claims

Unfortunately, the connection between this on-the-job exposure and later cancer diagnosis is not always clear, and some may not be aware that they are eligible to make FELA railroad claims. This is because there is often a significant delay between initial exposure to chemicals on the railroad (which builds up over months or years of exposure) and when symptoms begin to appear after years or decades of dormancy.

Not only does this make it difficult for cancer patients to make the connect their diagnosis with its potential cause, but also means that a patient may be at a later stage of cancer before being diagnosed, making treatment itself more difficult.  Others may realize the connection, but not know that they can file FELA railroad claims in the first place.

If you or someone you love have suffered due to creosote or benzene exposure on the job, which has since led to cancer diagnosis, you may be able to file FELA railroad claims. Those eligible to file include those who worked on the railroad for more than five years and have been diagnosed with cancer between 2013 through 2016.

While filing FELA railroad claims cannot reverse the damage of cancer or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial damages often incurred by medical expenses and lost wages.