| Railroad workers face many dangerous conditions | | | | - Wheezing |
| while working on or around the railroad. Exposure | | | | Asthma attacks can be very serious, leading to |
| to various dangerous materials used by railroad | | | | hospitalization or even death if not treated |
| workers can lead to serious injuries. A common | | | | properly. The lack of oxygen to your lungs |
| injury experienced by many railroad workers is | | | | caused by asthma attacks may cause life |
| diesel asthma, a respiratory condition caused by | | | | threatening symptoms, such as: |
| the inhalation of diesel fumes. Diesel exhaust is | | | | - Problems focusing |
| made up of hundreds of different dangerous | | | | - Problems talking |
| materials, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, | | | | - Unable to catch your breath |
| hydrocarbons, and benzene, all of which can cause | | | | - Cyanosis (the development of a blue tint to our |
| serious damage if inhaled over a long period of | | | | skin when there is a lack of oxygen) |
| time. | | | | FELA Protects You |
| Inhaling diesel exhaust is known to cause a wide | | | | If you are a railroad worker, the Federal |
| variety of cancers, as well as damaging | | | | Employer's Liability Act protects you from injuries |
| respiratory diseases. Diesel asthma is only one | | | | you may sustain due to the negligence of your |
| type of these diseases, however, if affects | | | | employer. Railroad employers are aware of the |
| hundreds of workers each year. | | | | dangers effects of diesel exhaust inhalation and |
| How Asthma Affects Your Body | | | | are responsible to supply you with protective |
| Asthma causes your airways to become swollen | | | | safety equipment to ensure that you are |
| and irritated in response to certain triggers, such | | | | protected from the fumes. Also, your employer is |
| as cigarette smoke or pollen. When the airways | | | | responsible to make sure that you have the |
| are irritated, they may begin to become even | | | | proper training to complete all of the tasks of |
| more swollen making the airway tight and allowing | | | | your job safely, this includes providing a safe |
| very little air through to the lungs. | | | | working environment for all workers. |
| Symptoms of Diesel Asthma | | | | A FELA Lawyer Can Help |
| Asthma has several symptoms that should be | | | | If your employer has negligently failed to supply |
| carefully monitored. If you suffer from any of the | | | | you with the proper training and equipment to |
| following symptoms, visit your doctor | | | | complete your job safely and this negligence has |
| immediately. These symptoms are often | | | | lead to your injuries - contact a FELA attorney |
| associated with the onset of an asthma attack: | | | | immediately. FELA Lawyers have extensive |
| - Shortness of breath | | | | experience representing those injured by negligent |
| - Tightness in the chest area | | | | employers and will work diligently to ensure that |
| - Chronic coughing | | | | you receive the compensation that you deserve. |