Norfolk Southern Spill Highlights Dangers For Residents & Workers

When people think of “accidents,” they often think of car accidents, or even injuries that can result from medical errors. Rarely do they think of the kind of catastrophic negligence associated with the recent Norfolk Southern train derailment, which has left many facing a public health and environmental emergency in its wake due to the resulting toxic chemical spill. Yet these types of accidents – like others – also involve injuries, deaths, worker injury issues, assessing liability, and dealing with damages for decades to come.

Damage to People & the Environment

The derailed cars were reportedly carrying a number of hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, a highly toxic chemical used in plastics manufacturing, as well as butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and isobutylene; all of which carry serious health effects when it comes to human exposure. As of now, it is known that the chemical releases made their way into at least six riverways and there has been significant property and natural resource damage, in addition to pain and suffering caused to those citizens and businesses most affected by the spill.

Workers and residents have specifically reported experiencing serious and significant health effects as a result of either living nearby or working to clean up the spill; specifically, eye and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, respiratory issues, and skin rashes. While the nearby community was asked to evacuate, workers have been sent to the derailment site itself, which obviously poses a serious hazard to those workers. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has now opened an investigation into the company.

 Litigation

Many have described the incident as “preventable,” and much is still unknown about the long-term health effects that those affected will suffer, as well as loss in property values and negative effects on the air, soil, and water. As a result, the company is now being sued by a number of defendants in federal court, seeking to hold it financially responsible for the negligence and financial damages suffered.

In connection with the negligence claims, it has been accused of violating a number of federal and state laws, with the total amount of damages sought in the litigation still fluid as the circumstances surrounding the spill unfold.

The state is also asking the court to require that the company conduct ongoing groundwater and soil testing and monitoring at the derailment location and surrounding areas.

Reach Out to Us Today for Help

If you or your loved ones have suffered from an accident or injury, contact our Macon personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill today for a free confidential consultation to find out more about our services.

Sources:

thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3900108-ohio-ag-sues-norfolk-southern-for-glaring-negligence-following-train-derailment/

alleghenyfront.org/after-workers-report-health-problems-osha-investigates-norfolk-southern-for-east-palestine-cleanup-site/