Twenty-seven lawsuits have been filed against CSX Transportation over the past year by employees claiming work-related exposure to toxic substances has led them to develop cancer.
Eight of the 27 lawsuits were filed in 2018 and claim that exposure to diesel fuel, benzene, herbicides, pesticides, creosote, asbestos, rock dust, and manganese caused them to suffer from prostate, bladder, breast, and abdominal cancer.
The plaintiffs claim CSX failed to provide employees with respirators while working on and around the trains. The most recent lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family members of a former CSX employee that died in 2015 from stomach cancer. The complaint reads “As a result of the negligence of the defendant, (CSX) the plaintiff sustained a loss of future benefits including a loss of pension benefits due to his reduced life expectancy.”
Laura Phelps, the media relations manager for CSX, said: “Safety remains our top priority and that includes the safety of our employees.” She would not comment further stating CSX doesn’t comment on pending legal matters.
Union Pacific and BNSF Railways have also faced similar lawsuits over the past two years.
CSX faces flurry of lawsuits claiming work conditions caused cancer
