What toxins are railroad workers exposed to?
Railroad companies expose their employees to a long and varied list of toxins. Historically, railroads have subjected workers to large quantities of carcinogens, including:
Which cancers are railroad workers at risk of developing?
Railroad workers face a heightened risk of developing a variety of cancers due to toxic exposures on the job. These include lung, bladder, kidney, throat, stomach, and colorectal cancers, as well as mesothelioma and blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. In addition, railroad exposures have been linked to several non-cancer illnesses, including respiratory diseases, toxic encephalopathy, and Parkinson’s disease.
What is the level of risk?
A railroad worker’s chances of developing cancer rise with the amount of a carcinogen they absorb on the job. The dose refers to how much of the toxic substance enters the body and reaches organs that can be harmed by it. Doctors estimate this dose by looking at how many years a worker was exposed, how often those exposures occurred, and how intense each exposure was.
Importantly, even low-level exposures over many years can cause as much harm as short bursts of high-level exposure, depending on the toxin involved. Unfortunately, the railroad industry offers countless opportunities for both low and high exposures. And because many railroad workers spend 30 years or more on the job, their long careers often lead to significant cumulative exposure.
Which railroad workers are most exposed to harmful chemicals?
Across the railroad industry, harmful chemical exposure affects workers in many crafts. Trackmen, car department personnel, locomotive engineers and conductors, and locomotive shop employees all face significant risks. Historically, railroad upper management has focused more on maximizing profits than on protecting employees from toxic substances. As a result, workers continue to experience hazardous exposures even today.
How railroad workers can reduce chemical exposure risk.
The following precautions may help reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
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Find out what you’re being exposed to. Determining which carcinogens are in your working environment is critical for minimizing your exposure.
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Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. Harmful exposures can occur by breathing a carcinogen in the air, ingesting a carcinogen in food or water, or by absorbing a carcinogen through your skin. Personal protective equipment, such as respirators, can dramatically reduce the intensity of your exposures.
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Tell your doctor you work for the railroad. Making your healthcare provider aware of your workplace exposures helps doctors identify potential cancers sooner. For example, a doctor knowing that you have been exposed to carcinogens on the job may be the difference between being diagnosed with a nasty cough and being diagnosed with lung cancer.
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Notify the Railroad. If you’re working in a smoke-filled shop, complain to your supervisors in writing. Insist on better practices and ventilation. If you’re operating locomotives long-hood forward through tunnels filled with diesel exhaust, file reports with the local Safety Committee. Put the railroad on notice that it is failing to safeguard the workplace.
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Pay attention to any signs of illness. Symptoms that appear minor, may be the early indicators of a developing illness.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness after being exposed to harmful chemicals on the railroad, it may be time to speak with a lawyer. Hughes Law Offices may be able to help. Call 312-877-5588 today and speak directly with an attorney. All consultations are 100% free of charge. Your time to file a lawsuit is limited.
References:
[1] https://safetydata.fra.dot.
