Often nostalgically referred to as a rugged, masculine profession, railroad work places employees at risk every day. Railroad work hazards increase worker’s risk of cancer from a variety of sources.

Diesel Fuel, Benzene Among Railroad Work Hazards

Locomotives run on diesel fuel, which emits exhaust full of hundreds of compounds, many of which are known carcinogens. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, benzene and other cancer-causing chemicals are carried through the air by particulates, the bits of diesel exhaust that are collectively seen as dark smoke.

Microscopic particulates make their way into tissue located deep within the lungs. When the chemicals cause inflammation and lung tissue damage, a railroad worker can develop “diesel asthma,” which is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Even though these particulates have been known to contain carcinogens for more than 30 years, many railroad workers are repeatedly exposed to them for long periods of time on their jobs.

Creosote, Asbestos, Radiation Are Other Railroad Work Hazards

Creosote is coal tar, a chemical used as a preservative on railroad ties. Creosote is a toxic substance, especially to the skin, liver and scrotum.

A lot of hardwood is pressure-treated with creosote. If a wood is particularly hard to treat, a dual process including treatments with borates and then more creosote is used.

Boron is combined with other ingredients to form dangerous compounds called borates that are used to create glass, fire retardants, cleaning solvents, high-energy fuel, and wood preservatives.

Asbestos is another carcinogen used for years in the railroad industry. The heat resistant and fire resistant properties of asbestos made it an ideal insulator for trains. Railroad work was listed fourth among the industries associated with asbestosis deaths between 1990 and 1999.

Asbestosis is a disease that leaves victims more vulnerable to cancer, especially mesothelioma cancer.

In the 1980s, one survey showed 21 percent of railroad workers age 50 and older had likely been exposed to asbestos. That dropped to three percent for those under the age of 50.

Radioactive materials, such as enriched uranium, were transported across the United States by train. This was a railroad work hazard that few employees realized was a problem. Not many railroad companies provided safety protection for workers who were handling and transporting radioactive waste.

Employees exposed to railroad work hazards are at risk for a variety of cancers, including:

• Lung cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Colon cancer
• Bone cancer
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis

Railroad workers who were exposed to toxins could have a claim against the railroad company, which failed to provide a safe working environment in violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

When employees have worked in hazardous environments, FELA enables employees to seek financial compensation. Railroad workers do not need to spend out-of-pocket costs to participate in these types of lawsuits.

If you or a loved one worked on the railroad was diagnosed with cancer, you could qualify to file a railroad work hazards lawsuit.