Ethylene oxide (EtO) tank car loaders and unloaders perform one of the most hazardous jobs in chemical handling. If you worked loading or unloading EtO from rail tank cars or tank trucks for at least one year, you faced some of the highest exposure levels of any workers in EtO operations. Your role required direct contact with this carcinogenic chemical during every shift, often in situations where engineering controls could not adequately protect you.
EtO tank loaders and unloaders work at chemical production facilities, distribution centers, and sterilization plants. The work they perform is critical to the operation of the facility and requires a high level of precision and attention to safety. Among their responsibilities are:
Loaders and distributors of ethylene oxide, among other jobs in EtO operations, have the highest exposure levels, according to occupational health reviews. The OSHA standard for EtO identifies loading and unloading of tank cars as operations where engineering controls might not be feasible to reduce exposures below required levels, making respirators necessary, but not always sufficient.
Work in this field creates unavoidable high-risk exposure moments. Loaders must make and break hose connections, access railcar domes from elevated heights, handle residual product during purging operations, and respond to vapor releases or equipment malfunctions. The majority of these tasks require contact with liquid and gas EtO at concentrations exceeding normal operating limits.
The OSHA, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classify ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and reproductive hazard. Workers face exposure through inhalation of vapors during transfer operations and potential dermal contact with liquid EtO or contaminated surfaces. Even with protective equipment, the cumulative exposure over a career can be substantial.
Your work kept chemical facilities running, but it came at a tremendous personal cost. If you worked as an EtO tank car loader or unloader for at least one year and developed cancer, you deserve compensation. The following cancer types have been linked to EtO exposure:
Leukemia Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Multiple myeloma Liver cancer Lung cancer Breast cancer Stomach cancerAt ELG Law, we have represented workers in the most hazardous occupations for over twenty years. We know that loaders and unloaders faced some of the most extreme EtO exposures in the industry. You will need to provide employment records and medical documentation showing your cancer diagnosis before we can begin your claim. We will not charge you unless we successfully recover compensation for you. Let us fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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