Los Angeles Train Derailment

by September 15, 2008
An engineer’s mistake caused a passenger train to collide head-on with a freight train near Los Angeles Friday, according to transportation officials.  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the incident one of the worst train accidents in modern California history. The collision happened when a Metrolink passenger train failed to stop at a signal near Chatsworth, Ca.  The death toll stood at 25 on Sunday, but more people were still trapped under the wreckage, officials said. There were 222 people on board Ventura County Line passenger train 111, and at least 135 people were injured, officials said.  Many were in critical condition.  The …. » Read more »

Hispanic Heritage Month

by September 12, 2008
Feliz Mes del Hispano! Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 44 million people in the United States are of Hispanic origin. In California, 35% of our residents are of Hispanic or Latino origin. Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to reflect on the issues in the workplace that disproportionately affect the Hispanic population. For example, national origin and/or ethnicity discrimination are of particular significance. Or consider that an employer may not require employees to speak only English in the workplace. Clearly there are many issues affecting the Hispanic community …. » Read more »

Government Roof Crush Standard Weak

by September 11, 2008
Six vehicles that passed government roof strength standards failed a real world test.  When the vehicles were tested in actual rollovers, the crash test dummies were impacted in ways that would have killed or paralyzed human occupants.    The cars tested were the 2007 Pontiac G6, 2006 Chrysler 300, 2007 Toyota Camry, 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, 2006 Honda Ridgeline and 2006 Hyundai Sonata.  The cars were tested using the Jordan Rollover System, which simulates a vehicle rollover.  The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration does not use a rollover test to gauge roof strenth.  Rather, it uses a static test with an vehicle …. » Read more »

Vehicle Rollover Technology

by September 5, 2008
Rollover incidents have the highest fatality rate of any type of crash.  But there are some technological advances that can keep you safer in the event of a rollover.  Side impact air bags can protect passengers’ heads and may even prevent passengers from being ejected.  But not all side impact air bags deploy in rollover crashes.  Variable Ride-Height Suspension (VRHS) can lower a vehicle’s center of gravity, making it less top-heavy and less likely to roll over. Some VRHS systems can make a vehicle several inches closer to the ground. Electronic Stability Control prevents a car from spinning out of …. » Read more »

Sexual Harassment Still Prevalent in the Workplace

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Despite the California legislature’s efforts in recent years to prevent sexual harassment by requiring anti-harassment training for all supervisory employees, sexual harassment continues to be a serious problem. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that in 2007, it received 12,510 charges of sexual harassment nationwide.  Unfortunately, many people — supervisory employees and subordinates alike — harbor misconceptions regarding harassment. For example, some think harassment is ”sexual” only if directed at a female. To the contrary, 16% of harassment charges filed with the EEOC in 2007 were by males.  Or consider that some workers think harassment by a customer or client is not the employer’s …. » Read more »

Ten Least Crashworthy Cars

by September 2, 2008
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs various crash tests to assess the safety performance of vehicles sold in the United States.  What follows is a list of the ten worst performers.  These are ten cars you DO NOT want to be in if involved in an accident.  The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent are the worst of the worst.  The sturdy looking Hummer H3 is a surprising addition to the list. 10. Hummer H3 — Front: Acceptable, Side: Acceptable, Rear: Poor 9. Jeep Patriot (without optional side-airbags) — Acceptable, Marginal, Acceptable 8. Pontiac G6 Convertible — Acceptable, Marginal, …. » Read more »

Eye Injuries — Including Airbag Injuries

by August 31, 2008
Eye Injuries – Including Air Bag Eye Injuries   It’s common for a speck of dirt to get blown into your eye, for soap to wash into your eye, or for you to accidentally bump your eye. For these types of minor eye injuries, home treatment is usually all that is needed. Some sports and recreational activities increase the risk of eye injuries. *Very high-risk sports include boxing, wrestling, and martial arts. *High-risk sports include baseball, football, tennis, fencing, and squash. *Low-risk sports include swimming and gymnastics (no body contact or use of a ball, bat, or racquet). Blows to …. » Read more »

Old Tires May Cause Vehicle Rollovers

by August 29, 2008
Testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that when tires are approximately six years old, the chance of tread separation increases substantially.  This means that an aging tire can self-destruct, causing a catastrophic blowout on the roadways.  Under these circumstances, drivers often lose control of their vehicles.  Those vehicles with higher centers of gravity, such as SUVS, are at serious risk for rolling or overturning. Aging tires are a stealthy hazard because they may still have tread life.  For example, a spare tire that it approximately 6 years old may never have been used; however, it is dangerous nonetheless.  …. » Read more »

“They can’t fire you for that!”

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Employment law is often a hot topic of conversation at parties, around the water cooler, or at the dinner table, because almost everyone can relate; we all have a story about a horrible boss or an unfair employment action. At some point in the conversation, someone usually exclaims, “But they can’t fire you for that!” Unfortunately, the truth is, in many circumstances “they” can fire you for “that”—As a general rule, your employer may terminate your employment for any reason, or no reason at all! However, the good news is that there are many exceptions to this general rule. While the …. » Read more »

San Diego Scaffolding Collapse Injures Pedestrians

by August 28, 2008
More than a dozen pedestrians were injured today in San Diego when a scaffolding collapsed beside a building in East Village.  The individuals were walking near 15th Street and Imperial Avenue when the scaffolding fell from a building that was under construction, according to published reports.    The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has very rigid standards that construction companies must meet when using scaffolding.  If the OSHA requirements are met when building and using  scaffolding, the agency says the scaffolding will not collapse.  Many scaffoldings collapse under the weight of construction equipment.   Sixty-five percent of the construction industry works on scaffolds frequently.  …. » Read more »
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