NJ Transit Asbestos Exposure and Compensation

New Jersey Transit Corporation, commonly known as NJ Transit, provides public transportation throughout New Jersey, with connections to New York and Pennsylvania.

NJ Transit employees and contractors may have been exposed to asbestos while repairing older rail cars and equipment or maintaining railroad facilities, including stations and rail yards. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials could release fibers into the air. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a cancer that may develop decades after exposure.

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) has more than 40 years of experience handling mesothelioma cases, including representing railroad workers and their families. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working for NJ Transit or a railroad company that previously operated its lines, our attorneys can explain your legal options.

NJ Transit at a Glance

• NJ Transit took over Conrail’s New Jersey commuter rail operations on January 1, 1983. Some workers may have been exposed to asbestos while employed by Conrail or other railroad companies that previously operated these lines.
• Asbestos-containing materials have been identified in NJ Transit rail cars and facilities, including Arrow III rail cars and the Bay Head Yard substation.
• Railroad workers potentially exposed to asbestos include machinists, electricians, pipefitters, rail car repair workers, and maintenance workers.
• NJ Transit workers diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may have options to seek compensation, including through asbestos lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claims.

NJ Transit Asbestos Exposure

NJ Transit took over Conrail’s New Jersey commuter rail operations in 1983. Workers employed by Conrail or other railroad companies that previously operated these lines may have been exposed to asbestos before NJ Transit assumed operations.

Asbestos remained in some rail cars decades later. An August 2017 NJ Transit safety advisory identified asbestos-containing materials behind panels in Arrow III rail cars and reported that removal work began in April 2017. The advisory instructed workers to contact the Office of System Safety before drilling, cutting, or otherwise disturbing suspected asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos was also identified in NJ Transit railroad facilities. In 2020, asbestos removal began at the General Service Substation at Bay Head Yard as part of a repair project. Materials involved included window caulking and glazing, floor tiles, condensate tank insulation, and electrical putty.

High-Risk Occupations at NJ Transit

Railroad jobs involving equipment repair, insulation removal, or renovation of older facilities may have resulted in occupational asbestos exposure. Depending on their duties and years of employment, workers who may have been exposed include:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Workers who handled asbestos-containing materials may have carried fibers home on their clothing, shoes, skin, or hair. Family members could inhale these fibers through close contact or while handling contaminated work clothes. This is known as secondary asbestos exposure.

Free Mesothelioma Guide

A complete guide delivered next day to your doorstep. Treatment Information, top doctors & cancer centers, financial assistance and more.

Get Your Free Guide

Asbestos Products Used at NJ Transit

Depending on where and when you worked, potential sources of exposure may have included:

• Equipment insulation
• Floor tiles and adhesives
• Gaskets and packing
• Older brake components
• Roofing materials
• Window glazing compounds and caulking

Not all of these materials contained asbestos. You do not need to know which products caused your asbestos exposure before contacting ELSM. Our attorneys can review your work history and investigate potential sources of exposure.

Compensation for NJ Transit Workers Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

If you developed mesothelioma after working for NJ Transit, a railroad company that previously operated its lines, or a railroad contractor, you may qualify for compensation through asbestos trust fund claims, lawsuits, or FELA claims.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Some companies that manufactured or supplied asbestos-containing products established asbestos trusts through bankruptcy to compensate eligible asbestos victims. Railroad workers may qualify for compensation from trusts associated with products they encountered on the job.

Each trust has its own medical and exposure requirements. To qualify, you generally need medical records confirming your diagnosis and evidence connecting your exposure to the company’s products. Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen can identify potentially eligible asbestos trust funds, gather supporting records, and prepare your claims.

Asbestos Lawsuits

A mesothelioma lawsuit may provide a path to compensation from companies legally responsible for your asbestos exposure. Your work history, exposure evidence, and applicable laws help determine which claims can proceed and where to file them.

ELSM can manage the filing and litigation process and help you prepare for a deposition about your employment and potential asbestos exposure. Many mesothelioma cases resolve through settlements. If a trial is necessary, our attorneys have experience presenting mesothelioma cases to juries.

Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and Railroad Injury Claims

Under 45 U.S.C. § 51, FELA allows covered railroad employees to seek compensation for injuries or illnesses, such as mesothelioma, caused in whole or in part by their railroad employer’s negligence.

• Current and former employees: Retirement or employment in another industry does not automatically prevent a claim arising from earlier railroad work.
• Employer negligence: Unlike most workers’ compensation claims, a FELA claim requires evidence of employer negligence contributing to the injury or illness.
• Contract workers: Independent contractors are not automatically covered. An attorney can evaluate the employment relationship and other potential claims.

FELA generally requires a lawsuit to be filed within three years after the claim accrues (45 U.S.C. § 56). Determining when an occupational disease claim accrued requires an individual review. Other claims may have different deadlines, so it is important to discuss your circumstances with an attorney promptly.

Common Questions About Asbestos Exposure at NJ Transit