What Oregon Railroad Workers Have Been at an Increased Cancer Risk?
Almost any worker in the field at a rail yard could face significant amounts of toxic exposure on a daily basis. After years on the job, however, chronic diesel fuel exposure can take its toll on an individual. Many former workers have fallen ill after many years as a career Oregon railroader. Those at an especially high risk of occupational cancer include those who worked in a position that required them to spend long hours in poorly-ventilated roundhouses and workshops.
Oregon railroad workers who were employed as diesel mechanics, machinists, engineers, conductors, trackmen, carmen, brakemen, signal operators, pipefitters, plumbers, electricians, welders and maintenance staff were likely at a high risk of coming face to face with toxic materials. Before the 1990s, OSHA safety standards were not always followed at many rail yards around the country. Thus, many railroaders were acutely exposed to cancer-causing substances.
What Are Common Toxic Materials at an Oregon Rail Yard?
- Solvents & Degreasers
- Asbestos brake linings and insulation
- Diesel Exhaust
- Benzene
- Welding Fumes
- Silica Dust
- Creosote
What Railroad Companies Operate in Oregon?
Aside from BNSF and Union Pacific, which now operate many of the larger rail yards, the Portland and Western Railroad (PNWR), Willamette and Pacific Railroad, Coos Bay Rail Link, Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad, and Albany & Eastern Railroad also still operate across the state. Lumber products and paper are among the largest commodities transported in the region, along with some agricultural products and steel. Some of the largest Oregon rail customers are Georgia Pacific, Stimson Lumber Company, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, and Hampton Lumber Sales.
The BNSF Railway facilities in Oregon include the Willbridge Yard, East St. John Yard, Bend Yard, Klamath Falls Yard, Rivergate Automotive Facility, and Portland Intermodal Facility. Union Pacific Railroad operates the Eugene Yard, Hinkle Yard, Albina Yard, Brooklyn Yard, and Lake Yard. The biggest railroad work sites include:
- Eugene Yard (UP)
- Medford Yard (CORP)
- Klamath Falls Yard (UP, BNSF)
- Albina Yard (UP)
- Barnes Yard (UP)
- Brooklyn Yard (UP)
- Willbridge Yard (BNSF)
- Lake Yard (BNSF/UP)
- Terminal 6/East St. John (BNSF)
- Hinkle Yard
What Can You Recover in a Railroad Cancer Settlement?
- Lost wages can be compensated if a worker is forced to leave a workplace due to an occupational illness
- Future Earnings can also be sought by plaintiffs who cannot return to their same job after an injury or illness
- Medical Expenses can be covered by a settlement, including all work-illness related treatments, medications, hospital visits, consultations, and rehab programs
- Long-term disability and work training programs can be paid for
- All costs that cannot be covered by FELA claims, workers comp or an individual’s health insurance
Every individual case is unique and will require an investigation into a former worker’s exact work history to determine if toxic exposure is the definitive cause of cancer. We work with top industry experts to draw a connection between diesel exhaust exposure and several serious medical conditions.
