List of Railroad Jobs Exposed to Carcinogens

This is a list of railroad jobs and how people who work with trains could be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting train & railroad occupation induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our FELA Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

$7.4 Million Awarded in Railroad Cancer Lawsuit

In September 2016, a jury in Illinois awarded $7.5 million to a railroad worker with cancer who was exposed to cancer-causing chemicals like creosote, lead, and degreasing solvents.

Train Workers Who May Be Exposed to Carcinogens

Railroads employ hundreds of thousands of people in a wide range of jobs. Many of these workers are exposed to carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) during their employment. That includes people who work on the train, but also repair, maintenance, or construction.

Types of Carcinogen Exposures in Railroads

The types of exposures vary widely — everything from massive chemical spills to “silent” exposures involving odorless benzene or diesel exhaust. Each case is unique and must be closely evaluated by a lawyer. Here are a few examples:

Asbestos: Used as insulation in trains, around boilers or engines, and in plaster, brake pads, clutches, wallboards, and more. It is a carcinogen linked to the lung cancer mesothelioma.
Benzene: Odorless chemical vapor that is found in solvents, degreasers, diesel exhaust, gasoline, paint, emissions, chemical spills, cleaners, and more.
Creosote: Skin cancer and testicular cancer have been linked to soot and coal tar creosote exposure, often in railroad workers who lay ties, repair tracks, or maintain right-of-way.
Diesel Exhaust: Breathing engine fumes is impossible to escape in jobs working on a train, which may be why studies show a 40% increased risk of lung cancer.
Other Carcinogens: Toxic chemicals are often transported in trains. Workers who load or unload chemicals, clean up spills, work in rail yards where spills have occurred, breathe fumes from leaking valves, or repair trains can be exposed.

FELA Lawsuits for Railroad Workers

The good news is that all railroad workers (which includes subways, light-rail, freight trains, repair, maintenance, construction, and crew) are eligible to seek compensation for their injuries by filing lawsuits under the Federal Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).

List of of Railway Job Occupations

Agent
Boilerman
Brakeman
Bridge tender
Bridge mechanic
Carman
Conductor
Crew
Dispatcher
Engineer
Engine driver
Fireman
Flagman
Gandy dancer
Guard
Hostler
Inspector
Length runner
Locomotive engineer
Lineman
Mechanical engineer
Platelayer
Porter
Rail yard engineer
Rail bender, bonder, filler, setter, grinder
Repair
Roadhouse master
Road foreman
Secondman
Section gang
Signalman
Stationmaster
Superintendant
Switch operator
Ticker collector
Tower operator
Track inspector
Track maintenance
Trainman
Train master
Traquero
Yardmaster
Yard engineer
Yard foreman
Welder

Types of Cancer Linked to Railroad Work

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Anaplastic Anemia
Bladder cancer
Bone cancer / bone marrow
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Colon cancer
Encephalopathy
Esophageal cancer
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Kidney cancer
Laryngeal cancer
Leukemia
Lung cancer
Naso-pharyngeal cancer
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Mesothelioma
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Rectal cancer
Skin cancer
Stomach cancer
Throat cancer
And more

Do I have a Railroad Cancer Lawsuit?

Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.