Many asbestos related diseases and illnesses take years and even decades to surface, making it difficult for Ohio victims who no longer work at a place where they were exposed to the deadly substance. However, three men who were formerly employed with the BNSF Railway believe that they know exactly when they wrongly suffered from asbestos exposure, leading to their illnesses. All three have filed a lawsuit against the Railway, claiming that it was negligent when it came to protecting workers.
The three men all left the railway industry in the early 2000s, but the previous 34 years spent working on the rails had already inflicted damage. According to the suit, all three now suffer from a lung disease that was directly caused by asbestos exposure while working. They claim that they were often required to work with asbestos laden objects, and were not provided with adequate or necessary safety equipment to do so.
Individually, each of the three workers involved in the suit is seeking $300,000 in compensation. Since part of the allegations include that BNSF was negligent in providing a reasonably safe workplace, it is perhaps not surprising that this is only one of many asbestos related lawsuits that have been filed against the railway in recent years. BNSF has largely refused to comment on the matter of former workers suffering from asbestos caused illnesses.
Despite understanding how serious asbestos exposure can be, many companies in Ohio and across the country failed to adapt to the times by providing safety equipment and proper training for employees. As a result, many workers who were exposed to asbestos during the course of their employment are now suffering the side effects of an economy that often seems to prioritize profits over the lives of employees. As these workers develop lung disease, cancer and other serious illnesses, it may be necessary to file a civil suit against an employer deemed negligent in order to pursue a claim for all of the related damages, both physical and financial.
Source: koin.com, “Ex-railway workers file asbestos suit against BNSF“, June 3, 2015
