The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in Beaumont, Texas in 1966. As more asbestos lawsuits entered the court systems, people began to realize how dangerous asbestos was. Despite knowing about these dangers, many companies continued to use asbestos and endanger their workers’ health in the process.
Union Pacific is one of those companies, according to a lawsuit filed by five former employees who are now suffering from asbestos-related diseases after working for the railroad for several years.
The lawsuit claims that Union Pacific ignored asbestos regulations and exposed workers to asbestos between 1969 and 2012, several decades after realizing how dangerous asbestos is. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the railroad company:
- Used cars that contained asbestos
- Never warned employees that they were danger
- Never provided training for handling asbestos properly
- Never tested the air for asbestos
- Never provided medical testing or treatment for asbestos-related diseases
There are very strict regulations for asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, gastrointestinal cancer and many other fatal diseases. Employers who willfully ignore their employees’ health because it gets in the way of their business should be held accountable for their actions. Lawsuits like these can compensate for medical expenses, pain and suffering and physical impairment. Visit our site to learn more about legal options for mesothelioma patients, or call 1-888-637-6347 to schedule a free case review.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – asbestos lawyers