Chicago-Land Personal Injury Lawyer - Legislation

Aluminum Bat Safety Still a Hot Topic in Chicago

Nick Avgerinos — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:36:17 GMT

This summer, as a response to the public interest in the controversy surrounding children being injured by balls hit off of metal bats, this blog explored the issue in “Do Aluminum Bats Create an Unnecessary Danger for our Children?”

It is clear that even as the summer months wane, the issue is still in the public eye. This week, Chicago’s City Council will debate a ban proposed by Alderman Robert Fioretti. The measure could ban metal bats in youth baseball leagues in the city of Chicago.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nick Avgerinos

Congress Steps Up for Toy Safety

Nick Avgerinos — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:24:00 GMT

Congress recently announced a mandate for more stringent federal safety requirements for toys. The consumer-friendly legislation was signed by the President. These new standards include a strict “standard for lead; create a searchable database of product complaints filed with the government for consumers to access; require manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to learn about recalled products; increase fines and other penalties for safety violations; and beef up the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission and its budget.” One of the more controversial measures is the specific provision to prohibit all Phthalates, which are used in a wide range of plastics.

In a recent era of widely publicized dangers to the safety of children in toys, cribs, car seats, and other products, Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky praised this new development as “the birth of a new agency that will have much broader authority particularly to keep our children safe.” A ban such as this is a rare action by Congress, and reflects growing research showing that children are exposed to dangerous chemicals, commonly found in the packaging, surfaces, or contents of many products, by simple acts such as “chewing on a rubber duck.”

According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “it should be a given that toys are not dangerous.” With this new measure, Congress is making a proactive and important effort to keep children safe from unreasonable and dangerous exposure to harmful chemicals and substances, as well as making sure products are mechanically safe.

For more information about consumer safety and children, see the Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reports that inspired Congress’ action, “Kids at Risk” by the Chicago Tribune. There are also valuable resources on Injury Board.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nick Avgerinos

Mind the Gap: Bridge Safety Still Falling Short

Nick Avgerinos — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:05:00 GMT

“The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” With all the hidden traps that technology sets, it’s easy to worry that the world will soon be crumbling all around us. And, as we have seen with numerous examples—perhaps most notably, global warming—our aging earth and our aging country require that we make some major changes to keep them habitable. It’s unfortunate that it often takes drastic events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to really call our attention to such problems. What’s even more unfortunate, however, is when we fail to respond.

That appears to be the case regarding the Minneapolis bridge collapse that happened a year ago. The country’s citizens were stunned by the site of the crumpled bridge, worried about our fellow commuters, and frustrated, wondering, “How could this happen?” And then, naturally, “Could that happen here?”

The answer is yes. Bridges, like most things, are only built to last so long. And it seems we’ve reached the breaking point; it’s time to give them a facelift. The problem is that so many of them need that facelift simultaneously. In 2006, the Federal Highway Administration reported that 1 in 4 of the nation’s bridges were at risk. As calculated by the American Society for Civil Engineers, it would cost nearly $10 billion every year for the next two decades to fix them.

According to a new study, conducted for the Reason Foundation, Illinois ranks 10^th best in the nation in its upkeep of bridges. While that may sound promising, it merely serves to point out the sad state of transportation affairs; more than 4,300 of the approximately 26,000 bridges in the state are considered structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

There doesn’t seem to be an easy solution, either. High gas prices have sparked more car pooling and fewer road trips; that’s good news for the environment, but bad news for the Highway Trust Fund, which relies on gas tax money. That Fund, which had an $8 billion dollar balance at the beginning of the current fiscal year, expects to have a $3.1 billion deficit in the next fiscal year.

Minnesota has been taking extra measures to ensure bridge safety since last year’s disaster, but it, too, lacks the funds for the complete overhaul needed. Mercedes Gordon, a survivor of that collapse wonders why sales taxes were used to subsidize a new baseball stadium, but funds cannot be found to repair bridges. She questioned: “What’s more important: baseball or safe traveling? Should we all be afraid every time we cross a bridge now?”

And while I’m reluctant to pose the former question in a city where the crosstown rivalry leads many to treat baseball like a religion, I think the latter question is important; we probably should be nervous about the situation. Maybe this latest study will emphasize the salience of the problem, inspiring legislators to find solutions, rather than dismiss concerns as a Chicken Little-type rant.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nick Avgerinos

Teen Workers: How to Stay Safe this Summer!

Nick Avgerinos — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:10:00 GMT

Remember what it was like to be a teenager? A false sense of invincibility, a dread of asking questions that might make you look dumb, and an eagerness to prove yourself on a first job? For many teens that are using their summer vacations for their first jobs, these traits combined with inexperience and improper safety provisions can be dangerous in the work place.

Every year , approximately 200,000 teenagers in the United States are injured on the job, and about 70 are killed. Which makes teens two times more likely to be injured on the job than adults. This higher risk of injury has inspired New York to make June “ Teen Worker Safety Month .” This month, state agencies will take steps to inform employers of laws and regulations for young workers, provide information to teen workers about their rights, how to work safely, and how best to communicate with their employers to ensure that their right are not violated. Furthermore, the New York Workers Compensation Board said Tuesday that it will expand a program to promote safety for teenage workers.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics in March of 2007 reports that many employers break laws by allowing teenagers under 16 to work past 7 PM on a school night, that teenagers perform multiple tasks on the job, lift heavy objects, or use certain types of dangerous equipment, or illegally serving alcohol, all of which may contribute to workplace injuries.

What may be obvious to an adult may not be obvious to a teenager, which is why employers should take caution in hiring teen workers. Adequate training aimed at a teenage audience is crucial. Employers should match teenage workers with a more experienced “buddy” or mentor to help them learn the safety intricacies of the job, and encourage teens to ask questions. Teenagers should not be operating heavy equipment, and employers should avoid tasks that require driving, as many teenagers have underdeveloped driving habits.

In Illinois , as in other state, Seasonal and teenage employees are entitled to the same workers’ compensation rights as full time employees, so employers should be sure to protect themselves with adequate precautions, and teen workers should know their rights. Stressing safety to teens is not only the law, is it is a moral obligation for those entrusted with their care.

Employers can find many resources on the internet that provide further safety tips if they follow these links from credible blogs , the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Nick Avgerinos