Railroad Workers Asbestos Claims

Railroad Asbestos Claims

For generations, railroad workers worked around asbestos-containing insulation, brakes, gaskets, pipe covering, locomotive components and building materials. Sammons & Berry, P.C. represents railroad workers and their families in asbestos-related claims throughout the United States.

See if you qualify Call (800) 519-1440

Nationwide representation for qualifying railroad asbestos matters

Asbestos was used throughout the railroad industry for decades. Exposure could occur directly while handling asbestos-containing materials or indirectly while working near another craft performing repairs.

A Long History of Railroad Exposure

Asbestos in Railroad Work

Railroads used asbestos because it resisted heat, fire and friction. During the steam era, asbestos insulation was extensively used around locomotive boilers, along with gaskets, refractory products and thermal insulation.

The transition to diesel power did not immediately eliminate asbestos. Asbestos-containing materials continued to be used on diesel locomotives and other railroad equipment for decades, and older equipment remained in service long after new installation of many asbestos products had stopped.

Exposure was not limited to a single railroad craft. Repair work in roundhouses, shops and other enclosed areas could disturb asbestos-containing materials and release fibers into the surrounding work environment.

Steam EraBoilers, lagging, insulation, refractory products and gaskets.

Diesel EraBrakes, insulation, pipe coverings, gaskets and heat-resistant components.

Railroad BuildingsFloor tile, ceiling tile, wallboard, roofing and thermal insulation.

Nationwide ClaimsRepresentation for qualifying railroad workers and families across the country.

Historical Railroad Use

From Steam Locomotives to Diesel Engines

The firm’s railroad asbestos materials document exposure risks spanning both major eras of locomotive technology.

The Age of Steam

Steam Locomotives

Steam locomotive boilers required extensive thermal insulation. According to the firm’s historical railroad materials, a single locomotive boiler could be covered with thousands of pounds of asbestos insulation.

Workers repairing boilers, removing old lagging, replacing gaskets or performing nearby crafts in a roundhouse could encounter airborne asbestos dust.

Common materials included boiler insulation, lagging, gaskets, packing, refractory products, pipe covering and insulating cement.

The Age of Diesel

Diesel Locomotives

Diesel locomotives replaced steam engines, but asbestos-containing products continued to be installed on locomotives and rail equipment into the later decades of the twentieth century.

The firm cites manufacturer correspondence acknowledging asbestos-containing materials on diesel locomotives into the 1980s, while older equipment containing asbestos remained in railroad service beyond that period.

Examples included brake components, trainline insulation, compressor-pipe tape, wire insulation, gaskets, packing and heat shields.

Common Exposure Settings

Where Railroad Workers May Have Encountered Asbestos

Historical exposure could occur on rolling stock, inside railroad facilities, during maintenance operations and at industrial locations serviced by railroad crews.

Locomotives

Boiler insulation, gaskets, pipe coverings, compressor systems, wire insulation, brake components, steam generators and heat-resistant materials.

Railcars & Cabooses

Brake shoes, sprayed insulation, steam lines, heater shields, gaskets, flooring and other heat- or friction-resistant materials.

Roundhouses & Shops

Repair and overhaul work could disturb insulation, gaskets, packing and other asbestos materials in enclosed areas shared by multiple railroad crafts.

Track & Rail Work

Some rail-heating, rail-straightening and welding procedures historically used asbestos rope, fire blankets, spark shields and related heat-resistant products.

Railroad Buildings

Floor tile, ceiling tile, wallboard, siding, sprayed insulation, thermal system insulation, roofing and other building products could contain asbestos.

Industrial Customer Sites

Rail crews serving refineries, plants and other industrial facilities could also encounter asbestos-containing insulation and materials outside railroad-owned property.

Products Used by Railroads

Asbestos-Containing Materials Identified in Railroad Operations

Historical railroad documents and litigation records cited by Sammons & Berry identify a wide range of asbestos-containing materials used in locomotive, railcar, track, shop and building applications.

Raw asbestos mud and lagging

Thermal insulation block

Pipe covering and insulation

Gaskets and packing materials

Millboard and asbestos sheeting

Insulating and finishing cement

Firebrick and refractory products

Brake linings and brake shoes

Floor tile and building materials

Transite pipe and cement products

Steam hose and asbestos cloth

Welding gloves and fire blankets

Spark shields and heat barriers

Roofing and fireproofing materials

Industry Knowledge

Railroads Knew About Asbestos Hazards Decades Ago

Sammons & Berry’s railroad asbestos materials point to historical medical and industry documents showing that railroad officials were discussing occupational dust hazards, including asbestos, many decades ago.

Despite this growing knowledge, the firm’s cited records indicate that railroads and locomotive manufacturers continued purchasing or installing asbestos-containing materials well into the later twentieth century.

Those historical records can be important when reconstructing where and how a retired railroad worker may have been exposed.

1930s

Occupational Dust Hazards Recognized

Railroad medical professionals were discussing asbestos, silica and other harmful workplace dusts.

1950s–1970s

Health Concerns Continued to Grow

Medical and safety literature increasingly connected asbestos exposure with serious respiratory disease and cancer.

1980s

Asbestos Materials Still in Use

Manufacturer and railroad correspondence cited by the firm documents continued asbestos use in locomotives and railroad operations.

1990s and Later

Older Equipment Remained in Service

Railroads continued dealing with asbestos-containing materials on older locomotives, railcars, shops and buildings.

Asbestos-Related Disease

Health Conditions That May Follow Railroad Exposure

Mesothelioma

A cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure that can develop many years after a railroad worker’s occupational exposure occurred.

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure is a recognized cause of lung cancer. A legal review considers the worker’s exposure history together with the individual medical facts.

Asbestosis & Other Disease

Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers can also cause non-malignant lung disease and other asbestos-related conditions.

Free Case Review

How a Railroad Asbestos Claim Starts

Step One

Contact the Firm

Call (800) 519-1440 or submit your information online for a free initial consultation.

Step Two

Review Railroad History

Discuss your railroad, craft, job duties, work locations, dates of employment and known asbestos exposures.

Step Three

Identify Potential Claims

The firm evaluates possible asbestos trust claims, litigation options and other sources of compensation.

Step Four

Handle the Claim

If the firm accepts the matter, the legal team investigates and moves the qualifying claims forward for the client.

Frequently Asked Questions

Railroad Workers and Asbestos

Where was asbestos commonly used on railroads?

Historical railroad materials identify asbestos in locomotive and boiler insulation, brake components, gaskets, packing, pipe covering, heat shields, railcar insulation, railroad buildings, floor and ceiling tile, roofing, fireproofing products and other equipment.

Could workers in crafts that did not directly handle asbestos still be exposed?

Yes. Repair and maintenance activities could release fibers into roundhouses, shops and other shared work areas. A worker did not necessarily have to install asbestos products personally to have a potential exposure history.

Was asbestos used after steam locomotives disappeared?

Yes. The firm’s historical materials state that asbestos-containing components continued to be used on diesel locomotives and other railroad equipment for decades, and older asbestos-containing equipment remained in service after new installation began to decline.

What diseases are associated with railroad asbestos exposure?

Asbestos exposure is associated with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other asbestos-related disease. Anyone with health concerns should speak with a qualified medical professional.

What information should a retired railroader gather?

If available, gather the railroad name, craft or job title, work locations, dates of employment, locomotive or shop assignments, known asbestos products and medical diagnosis information. You do not need every record before contacting the firm.

How much does a case review cost?

Sammons & Berry offers a free initial consultation. The firm states that asbestos matters it accepts are handled on a contingency-fee basis, subject to the terms of the representation agreement.

Were You Exposed to Asbestos While Working for a Railroad?

Contact Sammons & Berry, P.C. to discuss your railroad work history, diagnosis and potential legal options during a free initial consultation.