Posted on August 11, 2015 in Workplace Accidents

California workers may be interested in a series of mining industry fatalities that occurred in a single day across the country. These deaths have prompted one government agency to step up its enforcement and education activities in order to prevent further harm.

On Aug. 3, three mine workers in three different states were killed in workplace accidents. One work accident victim, an 18-year-old at a Virginia quarry, was buried beneath tons of stone and sand when a silo on the job site collapsed. The other incidents took place in South Dakota and Nevada. This is the first time that this many incidents have occurred on a single day since 2002.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is increasing its enforcement of safety regulations in the wake of these three deaths. This will include more facility inspections, concentrating on particular violations that are commonly associated with mining fatalities. Additionally, the agency will put more effort into educating the industry on the dangers that these violations can present. This includes having inspectors on the ground and at the job sites, educating miners and site operators first-hand about the potential for serious and fatal accidents, along with how to prevent them. A spokesperson for the MSHA points out that these efforts will require cooperation industry-wide.

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 Posted on August 06, 2015 in Truck Accidents

California residents may have read the national news reports about a person who was killed after a dump truck slammed into an overpass in New Jersey on Aug. 4. According to a state police captain, the truck was traveling on the New Jersey turnpike when it collided with the Wood Avenue overpass at about 10:30 a.m.

The crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the turnpike. The truck overturned and its driver was killed. The accident also caused a fire to ignite, and authorities closed both lanes of the turnpike until it could be determined if the overpass's stability had been compromised. Additionally, gas and power lines were also compromised. The traffic reportedly became backed up for miles and some of the lanes were expected to be closed until midnight.

Because trucks are much larger than other types of vehicles, an accident involving one is likely to leave people with serious injuries. In some cases, the injuries could be severe enough to result in death. If a person was killed in a crash caused by the negligence of a truck driver, the surviving family members may want to consider filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

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 Posted on August 01, 2015 in Truck Accidents

California drivers should always be aware of large trucks on the road, especially those transporting liquid loads. These vehicles are subject to special hazards the general public may be unaware of, and they are the topic of several myths about the conditions that can give rise to an accident. Understanding these myths and the actual causes of cargo tank rollovers can perhaps help to reduce the incidence of these accidents.

Contrary to popular belief, cargo tank rollover accidents are not commonly associated with speeding, nighttime driving, unsafe road conditions or lack of experience behind the wheel. Statistics compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration based on 2007 data reveal that most of these accidents occur during the day, on exit or on-ramps and straight roads, with commercial drivers who have more than 10 years of experience. Speeding is a factor in only about 28 percent of all cargo tank rollover accidents.

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 Posted on July 30, 2015 in Car Accidents

An outing among friends turned tragic on July 18 as four of eight women in a limousine were killed when the vehicle collided with a pickup truck. California residents may have heard about this accident that took place in Long Island, and the Suffolk County District Attorney said the crash may have happened because the driver of the truck had consumed alcohol earlier in the day.

The accident occurred when the pickup slammed into the limo that was attempting to turn at an intersection by making a legal U-turn, and the speed of both vehicles is currently unknown. Both drivers suffered injuries, and the four women who survived the crash all reportedly received serious injuries. The district attorney commented that the women in their early 20s did the right thing by hiring a limo since they were touring a winery, and a chemical test revealed that the limo driver had no alcohol in his system.

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 Posted on July 28, 2015 in Workplace Accidents

Iron workers in California perform some of the nation's most dangerous jobs. While doing construction work on multi-story buildings, these professionals are at a great risk of falling. To protect them from workplace injuries and deaths, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration has fall protection standards that must be followed by employers.

OSHA standards for fall protection apply to all workers who perform tasks at least 15 feet above ground level. These workers must be protected with guardrails, safety nets, fall restraints, positioning devices and personal fall arrest systems. Despite these requirements, OSHA regularly cites construction employers for fall protection violations, and falls are among the leading causes of death and injury on construction sites. While employers are obligated to follow OSHA guidelines at a minimum, they are also advised to recognize hazards and develop their own policies for maintaining worker safety.

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 Posted on July 13, 2015 in Workplace Accidents

Employees in California may benefit from learning more about the issues associated with emergency response, hazmat identification and control. One of the most critical tasks to complete in a catastrophic accident involving hazardous materials is to determine the chemical compounds involved in the incident. Addressing errors in the chain-of-custody process may be one of the most effective strategies for improving how these accidents are managed. Railcars, tankers, containers and trailers are all significantly affected by the integrity of the controls within the global supply chain.

Current technology can help enterprises deploy hazmat railcars, containers and trailers that are equipped with container security devices, or CSDs. Making these conveyances and containers smart with more recent tech applications can help provide more precise evidence about details concerning the contents or the shipping. The evidence is often accessible by using an app on a smartphone or another similar device.

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 Posted on July 13, 2015 in Car Accidents

On the night of July 7, it was reported that a vehicle slammed into a California Donut King shop after being involved in a two-car accident. The reported stated that five people were ultimately taken to a nearby hospital. One of the victims taken to the hospital, a 30-year-old female, later died as a result of her injuries.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Western and Marine avenues in Gardena at around 7 p.m. The impact caused one of the vehicles to crash into the structure. The donut shop was reportedly open when the incident occurred, but no one in the store suffered any injuries as a result of the crash.

No matter how serious a motor vehicle accident is, there is always the possibility that those involved could suffer serious injuries. These could include whiplash, broken bones and damage to internal organs.

In order to seek compensation for damages that they incur in a car accident, the injured victims must demonstrate that they did not cause the crash. A personal injury attorney may attempt to make a determination as to culpability by examining police accident investigation reports as well as obtaining witness testimony. If it subsequently appears that the accident was caused by a distracted, impaired or otherwise negligent driver, it may then be advisable to file a personal injury action on behalf of the injured victim against the responsible party that would seek compensation for the damages that have been sustained.

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 Posted on July 10, 2015 in Car Accidents

California residents should keep in mind that teenage drivers often engage in risky behavior, making them potentially dangerous to themselves, their passengers and others who are sharing the road with them. The root cause of accidents involving young drivers is often related to the invincibility complex many teenagers possess. They often believe that they can do certain things without facing consequences. Even though drivers under 21 only make up around 10 percent of all licensed drivers, they cause a disproportionate amount of fatal accidents that often involve drinking, texting or both.

Approximately 17 percent of all fatal alcohol-related accidents in the United States are caused by drivers under the age of 21. Even though most states have implemented strict laws related to the blood alcohol concentration of younger drivers, the problem remains. Approximately 2,000 underage drinkers die each year while operating a vehicle. Of all teen auto accidents, alcohol is a factor in one-third of them.

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 Posted on July 06, 2015 in Car Accidents

While many seniors wish to stay independent as the get older, it is important for motorists in California and other states to be aware of the increased risks older drivers face. Across the country, there were nearly 36 million licensed drivers who were 65 and older in 2012, and of them, an average of 15 were killed in automobile accidents each day while an average of 586 were injured.

Older drivers face certain risks on the road because of declines in vision and cognitive function or even due to physical changes. The risk of a fatal crash also increases using the matrix of the amount of miles traveled and starts with those between the ages of 70 and 74. Seniors are not necessarily more likely to get into fatal accidents but are more susceptible to medical complications and injuries. Regardless of age, male drivers have higher death rates than females.

There are some negative stereotypes that exist about older drivers, but many already take steps to protect themselves and others while on the road. Nearly 25 percent of drivers between the ages of 21 and 64 who were involved in fatal accidents in 2012 had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit compared to only 7 percent of seniors. Older drivers also tend to wear their seat belts and limit their driving at night and during bad weather conditions.

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 Posted on July 01, 2015 in Workplace Accidents

Temporary labor continues to be prevalent throughout California and continues to rise nationwide. An assessment of workplace injury data performed by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that temporary employees suffer on-the-job accidents and injuries more often than those who are permanently employed.

Research published by ProPublica also supported this finding with figures that showed that temporary laborers faced injury rates twice as high as people in permanent positions. The research focused on severe injuries in which workers were crushed, broke bones or suffered punctures and lacerations.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, roughly 17 million people in 2013 filled positions designated as temporary. Confusion about whether the contracting employer or staffing agency was responsible for safety and hazard training has been mentioned as one of the potential reasons for the higher rate of injury. As an industry, staffing agencies are beginning to seek best practices to reduce injury rates. For example, a regional manager for Kelly Services explained that said staffing companies should partner with client companies to determine safety training needs and perform quarterly assessments. Ongoing training about workplace hazards should also take place.

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