Cancer after railroad work has become a prevalent concern to the general public and medical community, with numerous railroad retirees reportedly being diagnosed with the deadly disease. Over a dozen different types of cancer after railroad work have been diagnosed linked to the toxic substances the railroad workers were regularly exposed to.

Cancer after railroad work has been attributed to several dangerous substances found in railroad yards, such as asbestos, benzene and radioactive material, which are encountered on a daily basis due to occupational duties often required in the job.

Railroad workers are not typically aware of how severe the risk of cancer is in their workplace, with railroad companies often accused of failing to disclose this information to their employees.

Overview of Railroad Cancer

Occupational cancer is a continuous risk for railroad workers due to regular exposure to dangerous substances like asbestos and benzene. Asbestos is a fibrous material that was popularly used before the 1980s for its fire and chemical resistant qualities.

Like other industries, railroad companies often used asbestos for a number of locomotive components including sealing cement, gaskets, brake pads, floor tiles and more.

Even though the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated asbestos was carcinogenic in nature and severely limited its uses, the railroad industry continuously utilizes asbestos.

Benzene is another dangerous substance that can cause cancer after railroad work, as it is often used as a solvent for degreasing locomotive parts and can be found in diesel exhaust. Benzene is highly toxic, and can be inhaled or even absorbed through skin.

According to a November 2004 study published by the Environmental Health Perspective, 55,000 people who had worked in the railroad industry between 1959 to 1996 were analyzed and had found a 40 percent higher risk of lung cancer in train operators. It is important to note that the occupations at the highest risk for railroad cancer include:

• Engineers
• Conductors
• Switchman
• Carman
• Track Maintenance Workers
• Machinists
• Clerk Type Workers

Other substances associated with cancer after railroad work include radioactive material, which were often found on nuclear materials that were transported to and from nuclear weapons plants. With these dangerous substances present in the industry, over a dozen different kinds of cancers after railroad work have been diagnosed including:

• Asbestos lung cancer
• 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
• Other Cancers

Under federal law, railroad companies are required to disclose potential health risks to their employees and must provide protective equipment to help minimize the risk.

Numerous former employees who were diagnosed with cancer after railroad work, have opted to file a Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) lawsuit. Potential claimants can seek damages for negligence and failure to warn, which may help pay for the hefty medical damages that will most likely incur from the intense treatment required for cancer care.