Rail Workers Helped Build California’s Economy. They Deserve Protection and Justice.
“We’ve talked to retired California railroaders who spent 30 years breathing diesel exhaust or cutting asbestos-wrapped pipe, and they were never warned. The companies were aware of the risks, and they made a deliberate choice. Now those workers are sick, and it’s time they were heard.”
Joe Lyon,
California Railroad Injury FELA Lawyer
California’s Rail Legacy and Its Hidden Health Cost
From the ports of Long Beach and San Diego to the switching yards of Stockton and the diesel shops of Colton, California has always been a logistical powerhouse for rail freight. For over a century, workers at Union Pacific, BNSF, Amtrak, and other carriers helped move the state’s economy—laying track, maintaining engines, loading trains, and working 10- to 12-hour shifts in dusty, poorly ventilated yards.
But, over time, many California railroaders were unknowingly exposed to hazardous levels of diesel exhaust, asbestos insulation, silica dust, petroleum solvents, and tar-based chemicals, such as creosote.
Now, years—even decades—later, countless workers and retirees are facing devastating diagnoses: lung disease, blood cancer, mesothelioma, and more.
If this has happened to you or someone in your family, you are not alone, and you have legal rights under FELA (Federal Employers Liability Act) to seek justice and compensation.
Call The Lyon Firm today at (513) 381-2333 to speak with a California railroad cancer lawyer or request a free case review.
Toxins Linked to Cancer at California Railyards
Most of California’s major rail sites were never designed with long-term health or worker safety in mind. The industry focused on moving freight, not on ventilation, air filtration, or hazard warnings.
As a result, many trades—engineers, mechanics, electricians, and track laborers—spent years in enclosed engine cabs, diesel sheds, underground tunnels, and open-air yards filled with chemical-laden dust and fumes.
Key cancer-causing substances present in rail work environments:
Diesel Exhaust
Rail yards emitted diesel particulate matter around the clock, and in enclosed cabs or shops, fumes could linger for hours. This is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization, meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans.
Asbestos
Used extensively in brake shoes, gaskets, pipe insulation, boilers, and engine compartments. Asbestos diseases have a long latency period—often 20 to 40 years—and include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and severe lung scarring.
Benzene
Found in fuels, degreasers, adhesives, and cleaning solvents. Benzene breaks down red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and other hematologic cancers.
Silica Dust
Disturbed gravel (ballast), concrete, and untreated earth emit respirable crystalline silica. Even small amounts, when inhaled over time, can lead to silicosis, lung cancer, and fibrosis.
Creosote
A coal-tar wood preservative used to treat railroad ties and timbers. It contains PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which penetrate skin, lungs, and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure is linked to bladder, kidney, and skin cancers.
Welding Fumes and Industrial Smoke
Welders, grinders, and rebuilders worked amid metal particulates, manganese fumes, and solvent vapors, particularly in older buildings with no local exhaust systems.
ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
NO COST UNLESS WE WIN
The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
Take Action: Start Your California Railroad Workers Cancer Lawsuit Today
If you or your loved one worked in the railroad industry and are now facing a serious illness or cancer that may be linked to job exposure, don’t wait.
Call us at (513) 381-2333 or message us online now.
Your case could help cover:
- Surgery, chemo, and long-term treatment;
- Lost wages and income;
- Housing or lifestyle adjustments;
- Funeral and survivor benefits; and
- Holding a negligent company accountable.
This is about justice and making sure rail workers in California—many of whom were never warned about the risks—can finally get answers.