Month: November 2018
Protecting firefighters from toxic exposure on fire scenes
Are firefighters at a greater risk of cancer? It makes sense that they would be. While buildings once consisted primarily of wood, metal, glass and textiles, today’s structures are riddled with asbestos, plastics, polymers and chemical coatings. The housing of a television set, for example, contains benzene, ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, all of which are
What toys should I avoid this holiday season?
Whether you’ve just started shopping for the little ones in your life or the gifts are already under the tree, adults with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews should know just because a toy looks fun doesn’t mean it’s safe. Many toys hit the shelves every year that pose a risk for injury or are defective.
Goodyear G159 tires linked to over 100 deaths, never recalled
Did confidential settlements prevent safety regulators from learning about all crashes involving Goodyear’s G159 tires? According to an investigation by to the transportation and vehicle website Jalopnik, at least one crash involving the tire was never recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — possibly because the people involved were prevented from notifying NHTSA
Improperly calibrated breath testing machines do occur
Most DUI arrests and convictions are based on the results of a breath testing machine such as the Intoximeter, Intoxilyzer, Alco-Sensor or Alcotest. As a result, attorneys defending DUI cases often question the accuracy and validity of the breath test. These machines can cause inaccurate results when they are used by untrained personnel, used improperly,
High-visibility DUI enforcement season about to begin
The holiday season, beginning at Thanksgiving and continuing until after the first of the year, is a dangerous time of year. It’s party season, and that means more people will drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, it’s also high-visibility enforcement season. It may seem counterintuitive to advertise enforcement activities, but the National
New traffic safety research targets wrong-way driving crashes
A Florida State University psychology professor has been researching how to prevent wrong-way driver crashes for the Florida Department of Transportation. His research indicates that advanced-technology pavement markers and “smarter” signs could help prevent wrong-way driving, especially among drivers who have been drinking. Wrong-way drivers cause only about 3 percent of all traffic crashes, but
Justice Department scrutinizing asbestos trusts for mismanagement
When companies expose workers or customers to asbestos and people develop asbestos-related diseases, those companies can be held legally responsible. Asbestos has been used in various applications due to its heat- and fire-resistance. Unfortunately, it causes the deadly cancer mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. Because of the massive cover-up involving asbestos manufacturers and suppliers, many
Avoiding a Thanksgiving DUI
Thanksgiving brings families together for celebrations that involve intense eating of food and drink. It is what makes the holiday so beloved for so many. As the holiday approaches, celebrants who are driving to a party should be cautious not to imbibe too much alcohol with their meals, as it can be dangerous for everyone
Man alleges asbestos led to lung cancer
In a recent lawsuit, a 68-year-old man alleges that asbestos on work sites led to his lung cancer. The man is a former laborer who contends he developed asbestos-induced lung cancer after inhaling asbestos on several job sites in North Carolina dating back to the 1960s. Because the latency period can be decades before an
Fall prevention for the elderly: 3 safety tips
The statistics on falls among the elderly are startling. Every second of every day, somewhere in America, it happens. An older person falls down and often gets hurt. For many who fall, the injuries start a downward spiral that becomes difficult or even impossible to reverse. What can you do to protect against this happening