Despite knowing that there were serious health risks presented to workers, railroad companies used asbestos extensively and for a long time. While regulations largely prohibited the use of asbestos after the 1970s, there are some reports that railroad companies used asbestos as late as the 1990s. As a result, a large number of railroad workers were unsafely exposed to asbestos for many years.
Types of Asbestos-Containing Products
There are several types of asbestos-containing products to which railroad workers were exposed, such as:
- Insulation. Asbestos was used as insulation on both diesel and steam locomotives to reduce the risk of fires.
- Railroad Equipment. The material was also used in railroad equipment including boilers and electrical panels.
- Railroad Materials. Because asbestos is extremely durable, it was used in building materials like plaster, sealing, and wallboards.
The railroad workers who were exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of mesothelioma diagnosis.
Railroad Companies That Used Asbestos
Some of the railroad companies that have been determined to have used asbestos include the following:
- Allied Signal Corporation
- Amtrak
- Birmingham Southern Railroad Company
- Carolina and Western Railway Company Incorporated
- Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
- CSX Transportation
- Georgia Pacific
- Genesee and Wyoming Incorporated
- Illinois Central Industries
- Iowa Interstate Railroad Limited
- Kansas City Southern Railway Company
- Seminole Gulf Railway LP
- Watco Transportation Services Incorporated
Railroad Occupations and Mesothelioma
For railroad workers, asbestos used at roundhouses, back shops, or repair facilities was the most dangerous. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can end up attached to the mesothelial lining of a person’s lungs. Often times, these fibers eventually lead to mesothelioma, which is a deadly type of cancer that affects the linings of a person’s abdomen, heart, or lungs.
Types of Railroad Workers Exposed to Asbestos
While all railroad workers are at risk of being exposed to mesothelioma, some of the positions that we most often encounter while helping asbestos victims include the following:
- Railroad Back Shop Worker
- Railroad Blacksmith
- Railroad Brakeman
- Railroad Boilermaker
- Railroad Brake Line and Shoe Repairman
- Railroad Burner
- Railroad Car Construction Worker
- Railroad Car Repairman
- Railroad Fire Box Installer
- Railroad Fireman
- Railroad Forger
- Railroad Grinding Room Worker
- Railroad Industry Occupations & Asbestos Exposure
- Railroad Insulator
- Railroad Lagger
- Railroad Mechanic
- Railroad Oiler
- Railroad Pipefitter
- Railroad Pipe Insulator
- Railroad Plumber
- Railroad Repair Facility Worker
- Railroad Repair Shop Worker
- Railroad Shoe & Brake Installer
- Railroad Steamfitter
- Railroad Supply House Worker
- Railroad Welder
- Roundhouse Worker
Speak With a Compassionate Mesothelioma Lawyer Today
After losing his father-in-law to the condition, attorney Michael Throneberry has helped numerous mesothelioma victims pursue legal action and the compensation they deserve for their losses. Attorney Throneberry has an intimate understanding of the complicated issues faced by mesothelioma victims including the legal challenges to obtaining just compensation. From start to finish, attorney Throneberry remains committed to making sure that asbestos victims obtain the best results possible.
Contact The Throneberry Law Group today by calling 888-506-1131 or scheduling an online consultation.
