Asbestos Exposure and Railroad Maintenance Workers | Risks and Prevention
The risk of asbestos exposure is hard to overstate, especially for those with a work history in construction and manufacturing. However, one industry that poses a health risk that may be downplayed or outright ignored is that of railroad maintenance workers. Here’s what you need to know about the risks for those with a history in railroad maintenance related to asbestos exposure.
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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for asbestos-related diseases.
The Industry Uses of Asbestos
Asbestos is a fascinating material, or rather, mineral. The term refers to a group of minerals that are divided into two main groups: serpentine and amphibole. These names refer to the shape of their fibers, with serpentine fibers taking the shape of curls and amphibole fibers having a straight or needle-like shape. Among these two groups of asbestos, there are six main types that are further distinguished by their color and fiber features. These are known as chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite.
An Indestructible Material?
Since all of these asbestos varieties are distinct, they each have specific applications for use that might work best for some and not others. But what is it that makes this naturally occurring mineral relevant for industrial use? The answer is, asbestos is incredibly durable. In fact, the meaning of asbestos in ancient Greece conveys the idea of indestructibility. While asbestos is not indestructible, it is incredibly durable. Among its durability features, asbestos is resistant to things like heat and fire, corrosion and electricity, and even sound.
Asbestos Applications
Because of this impressive range of durability qualities, asbestos has a rich history of use as a protection and strengthening agent. When considered especially in the context of construction and manufacturing, asbestos was used in everything from cement to roof shingles, paint, insulation, and piping. This not only applies to residential homes, but also to all varieties of industrial sites: refineries, foundries, shipyards, factories, and manufacturing plants. In short, asbestos made up the A-Z of the construction process.
Asbestos Use in Railroad Maintenance
It may seem unclear exactly how asbestos relates to railroad maintenance. The fact is, there is a wide range of places where asbestos can be found in this industry. Railroad maintenance workers are largely responsible for maintaining the equipment and engines of locomotives, but maintenance can also include everything from carpentry, upholstery and even painting work.
When we think about the widespread use and presence of asbestos in various industrial processes, it is easier to understand what makes railroad maintenance a prime source of danger. For one, the actual parts and equipment that are repaired in this vocation include asbestos-containing materials, especially in the case of materials used before the mid-1980s when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began banning these materials and replacing them with alternatives to asbestos.
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Gaskets used in engine assemblies, paint, spray-on coatings, and a wide range of other industrial applications of asbestos were widespread prior to the 1980s. In fact, most industrial machinery prior to the 1980s was frequently spray-coated with asbestos heat treatment for fire-proofing purposes, due to the high temperatures railroad machinery was exposed to.
Railroad Maintenance Facilities
Besides the actual components and materials used in railroad maintenance that may contain asbestos, the occupational risk of exposure also includes the facilities and shops that railroad maintenance workers use. In the case of maintenance being performed on-site, locomotives could contain asbestos in piping, insulation, flooring, and various other places. In the case of maintenance being performed in an industrial facility, the same risk of asbestos is present, since those facilities built before the mid-1980s had widespread uses of asbestos throughout their construction.
“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)1 |
Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
For railroad maintenance workers exposed to asbestos, the results may not be readily apparent. One reason for this is that asbestos fibers are microscopic; they cannot be seen by the naked eye. Beyond that, asbestos fibers do not have any taste or smell. This means that there is no way to “sense” asbestos. Because of this, railroad maintenance workers could be exposed to asbestos fibers on a daily basis, without any notice.
“Some asbestos fibers may bypass…your body’s natural defenses…and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.”Source: American Lung Association |
What’s more, the risk of secondary exposure exists for those who lived with someone that worked with or around asbestos. Examples of this include railroad workers who unknowingly take home tiny asbestos fibers on their clothing or tools and expose their family members to them. As their clothes are washed or exposed to HVAC, the fibers are spread throughout the home, unknowingly putting others at risk.
“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.”Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)2 |
Asbestos Latency
This danger of exposure is not only concerning because of the absence of taste or smell to when exposed to asbestos fibers but that the symptoms of exposure to asbestos often take decades to appear. In other words, many railroad maintenance workers have no idea that they have been exposed to asbestos in the past and only discover that they have when they are diagnosed with cancer or a severe illness decades later. Of these various health effects caused by asbestos fibers making their way into the body, some of the more common examples include mesothelioma, lung diseases, laryngeal cancer, and much more.
Health Concerns
All varieties of asbestos diseases can be life-threatening or at the very least, lead to a debilitating quality of life. Because of this, it is important to take action right away if you suspect that you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos as a result of working in the railroad maintenance industry. Reaching out to your healthcare provider right away to determine whether asbestos fibers are present in your body is one of the most important first steps to take. Doing this can secure you with the time and financial resources you need to receive treatment.
People who worked in these industries prior the mid-1980s have a higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
| Construction | Factories | Foundries | Refineries | Shipyards | Mining / Milling |
| Demolition | Insulation | Steelworkers | Pipe Fitting | Shipbuilding | Mechanics |
| Roofing | Textiles | Iron workers | Boilers | Firefighting | Brake Repair |
| Flooring | Cement | Electricians | Gasket Repair | Railroad | HVAC |
Unfortunately so do their families.
Claims for Railroad Workers
The good news is, there are various legal options available for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure in the railroad maintenance industry. One example of this is the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) which helps railroad workers receive compensation due to asbestos exposure from railroad sources such as boilers, machinery insulation, and gaskets. Some of the more common job titles for those who have already received compensation include railyard engineers, yardmasters, conductors, dispatchers, inspectors, machinists, and much more. In the case of qualifying for FELA compensation, the lawsuit must be filed without three years of an asbestos injury.
| Over $30 Billion is still available (without a lawsuit). Stake your claim.  |
Alternatives to Lawsuit Compensation
However, there are other types of compensation available that may not require filing a lawsuit at all. One of the fastest and easiest examples of compensation includes receiving money from asbestos trusts. These are the result of companies and insurers setting money aside in order to settle cases outside of court. Currently, around 40% or nearly $30 billion in trust funds remain unclaimed by those who are entitled to them.
While various types of asbestos trusts exist with their own requirements for qualification, there are various trust funds that have been created specifically for railroad maintenance workers. Examples of this include Fibreboard Company, Yarway Corporation, Combustion Engineering, Garlock Sealing Technologies, and many more.
Speak With an Asbestos Claims Attorney
While sifting through this information can feel overwhelming, it is important to know that Asbestos Claims attorneys are dedicated to helping you each step of the way by helping you determine which method of compensation is best for you and guiding you through the entire application process. Best of all, they only get paid once you receive and cash your compensation check, so there is no risk involved. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness and are worried about how to pay for the necessary treatments, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out today to get the help you need.
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For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.
Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years.
At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.
Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones.
If you believe that you or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.
This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being.
There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)
If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.
In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.
There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.
If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.
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W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.
1 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
2 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.