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The kansas city southern railway myelodysplastic syndrome City Southern Railway and Black Lung Disease

Rail workers are exposed daily to a myriad of toxic substances which can cause respiratory issues and blood disorders. This includes diesel exhaust, asbestos and welding fumes.

In this case there worked as a railroad car mechanic who developed black lung. He was in a position of no work because of the disease that caused him a lot of suffering and pain.

What caused the accident

Harvey Couch, a Louisiana utility entrepreneur, began to buy railways in the 1920s and merge them under his control. In 1939, Harvey Couch bought the L&A and renamed it kansas city southern railway emphysema kansas city southern railway laryngeal cancer Southern. kansas city southern railway bladder cancer City and New Orleans had direct railway service for the first time. The new daily streamliner, dubbed the Southern Belle, was backed by a marketing blitz and gave notice to shippers as well as customers that KCS provided a superior alternative to Union Pacific and BNSF.

Over the years the railroad slacked maintenance of its tracks. The management delayed repairs to increase the bottom-line. This is a tactic that is effective for a short time, but can have long-term negative consequences. A series of derailments in late 1972 caused the railroad to be aware that it was required to address the issue. KCS, among other things, needed the use of heavier rail, a new tie, and Centralized Traffic Control.

The acquisition of the Gateway Western Railroad widened the KCS footprint from Shreveport, Arkansas into Mississippi and Alabama while opening a new route to St. Louis via Springfield, Missouri. The resulting network now directly serves ten states and Mexico. It is a Class I railroad and transports freight for seven major industries: agriculture and minerals, military, automotive, chemicals and petroleum energy, industrial, and consumer products. It also provides intermodal service. KCS employees who worked on these lines have been exposed to asbestos, Kansas city southern Railway myelodysplastic Syndrome diesel exhaust and other toxic materials which are linked to a variety of illnesses including mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as blood disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome as well as acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma.

What was the reason for the accident?

Railroad workers are often exposed to diesel exhaust, which results in occupational cancers, pulmonary problems and blood disorders. These toxic exposures can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the failure to provide a safe workplace or lack of training. For instance, employees working on locomotives typically need to climb in and out of the cabs and other machinery that has little ventilation. These workers are also at risk of breathing toxic fumes from solvents, welding fumes and degreasers. These toxic fumes are linked to several medical conditions, including blood disorders and lung disease such as myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Many employees have been diagnosed with these diseases after being employed by Kansas City Southern Railway Myelodysplastic Syndrome kansas city southern railway scleroderma Southern. The Canadian Pacific Railway now owns the company.

What kind of damage was caused?

Railroad workers, kansas city southern railway Myelodysplastic syndrome including shop workers such as pipefitters and machinists, are often exposed to harmful chemicals in solvents, degreasers as well as lubricants and fuels. This has led to occupational lung diseases, blood disorders, and certain cancers. People who work around locomotives and track equipment are particularly at risk of cancers caused by exposure to diesel exhaust.

Giddens was employed by KCS in the maintenance-of-way department. He was in charge of the construction and maintenance of the railroad's right-ofway and roadbeds. Giddens was tasked with fixing the wash-out near milepost 612 after heavy rains washed away some of the ballast supporting the rail and tie. Giddens was instructed to use a locomotive crane to lift the tracks out of the way, while workers put cross-tie supports under them.

During this procedure, Giddens suffered crush-type fractures in his middle and ring fingers. The treatment required for these injuries was eight operations. Giddens was unable to return to work, so he relied on KCS’ wage continuation program.

During closing arguments Giddens' counsel insisted that KCS was in violation of OSHA regulations concerning the type of chains it uses on its locomotive cranes as well as the requirement that these chains are tested, inspected and labeled. Giddens' counsel also argued that this was KCS' duty to know the applicable OSHA regulations and to comply with them. The court did not find KCS nor its expert witnesses challenged this factual assertion.

Who was responsible?

A train that is crossing the road is among our most dangerous intersections. When a car strikes an train severe injuries are incurred by the driver and passengers.

The accident occurred at the intersection of East Iowa Road and the KCS tracks in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. Lloyd Mitchell was driving a van that was carrying three girls to their homes following church services when the train struck them. The accident killed the oldest girl, Amanda Duncan, who was 12 years old. Rachel and Myranda were both injured, but survived.

Plaintiffs claim that the railroad failed to properly clear its right-of-way at the crossing, which led to inadequate sight distances. They also claim that the railroad did not to put up warning signs as required by law. The trial court decided that KCS was in breach of its obligation to maintain its tracks in good condition, to maintain adequate distances of sight, and to place warning signs. This was the cause of the accident.

Mike Haverty took over as KCS's CEO KCS in 1995, when the Western railroads were consolidating under the BNSF and Union Pacific mega-systems. He believed that KCS could keep its independence by doubling down on its northern-southern roots. He began to purchase the tracks of the L&A, LR&N and Texas Mexican Railway. When the company acquired Texas Mexican Railway, he constructed a north-south rail line which was in competition with the two super-systems.