Cincinnati Personal Injury Lawyer - Safety

How To Ensure Your Deck is Safe for Summer Gatherings

Alison De Villiers — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:32:00 GMT

Let's face it. Summers are for the outdoors. From backyard bbq's to porch parties, the deck can be the centerpiece of a home for this time of year. Unfortunately, many homeowners take it upon themselves to build their own decks with little or no construction experience. Other homeowners fail to inspect their decks for safety isues. For these reasons it is estimated that between 2002 and 2007 there were 350 injuries and 17 deaths solely due to deck failure.

There are two main reasons for deck failure: poor railing construction and poor connection to the house. If any of these five signs appear then it may be time to call in a professional: loose connections (for example, a wobbly railing), missing connections, corrosion, rot, or cracks.

According to Jim Bushart of the National Association of Certified of Home Inspectors:

My recommendation is that home owners perform an annual inspection of their deck to ensure that the deck ledger board is securely anchored (with bolts…not nails) to the floor joist of the house and that all fasteners are free from rust and deterioration. If you detect or suspect movement of the structure from its original construction, contact a qualified and competent contractor immediately.

If you are purchasing a new home, always have the home inspected by a qualified home inspector. Pay close attention to any comments made as to the condition of the deck and ensure that it is safe when you move in. By simply keeping a close eye on the integrity of the structure many accidents are preventable.

The North American Deck and Railing Association has a checklist of situations to look for. Remember, if you're considering building a deck it's better to hire a professional to build in the first place. With the size of modern decks, more people than ever can be subject to injury by deck failure.

So remember safety first this summer and have a great one!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison De Villiers

Boating Safety on the Ohio River

Alison De Villiers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:05:29 GMT

Summer and boating seem to go together, especially on the Fourth of July. Having fun on a river or lake with friends and family creates the setting for wonderful summer memories. In order to make sure that those memories are not marred by accidents, injuries or other tragedies, however, it is important to remember some basic boat safety and to understand the laws that govern boating particularly on the Ohio River. The Ohio River is unique in that it may be governed by Ohio law, Kentucky law or the maritime laws of the United States, which means that boaters are required to comply with all United States Coast Guard requirements, depending on the circumstances.

Firstly, it is important to remind boaters that operating a watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only extremely dangerous but it is also illegal in most states. Drinking while boating can be particularly problematic because often boaters are dehydrated from being out in the sun all day which can cause alcohol to affect the body more strongly. Secondly, while it is ideal for all passengers on a water craft to wear a life vest, it is extremely important that children always wear a life vest; not only will it help them to stay afloat, but it will also make them visible in the water- both to assist in rescuing them should they fall overboard and to ensure that other boaters can see that they are in the water. When trying on a life jacket for a child, always check that it is snug and if you pick the child up by the shoulders of the life jacket, be sure that their chin does not slip down through the vest; this ensures that you have a proper-fitting vest.

Also, with regard to children and minors, it is against the law on the Ohio River for any child under the age of twelve to operate any personal watercraft at any time. A child aged twelve to fifteen requires an education permit and a person who is eighteen or older to be on the personal watercraft with them to operate. Minors who are sixteen or older only need to have the education permit in order to operate a personal watercraft. Minors who are at least twelve years of age may operate a manual watercraft such as a kayak or canoe. When it comes to powered watercraft other than personal watercraft children under twelve generally need direct audible and visual supervision of someone over eighteen but are not required to have an educational permit, though it is recommended for all minors who are operating any manner of watercraft. A boater who was born on or after January 1, 1982 is subject to Ohio’s mandatory Boater Education Law which requires the completion of a boating course or proficiency exam in order to operate a boat powered by more than ten horsepower.

With regard to general boating safety and regulations, it is important to know where “no wake zones” are as they are strictly enforced, especially on holiday weekends. On the Ohio River, a watercraft must travel at idle speed if it is within 300 feet of a marina, gas dock or launching area and any non-commercial watercraft must travel at idle speed between sunset and sunrise. This is an important change in the laws governing the Ohio River as Kentucky law used to only require a 100 foot no wake zone. Remember also to operate your boat in accordance with the following simple regulations for general boating use: a boat traveling downstream has the right of way over a boat traveling upstream, recreational boats must yield to commercial boats, when traveling in narrow channels, always stay as close to the right side of the channel as possible and finally, boats which are leaving a launch or tie-up point are required to yield to those boats which are coming in.

Also note that all recreational boats in Ohio, including manually-powered boats such as kayaks, require registration which can be obtained online or in person. Finally, while it is not a law, it is recommended that all boaters install on their boats a ship-to-shore radio which can assist rescuers and emergency personnel in rendering aid should you find yourself in trouble out on the water.

Boating is fun, relaxing and a great way to build summer memories; if everyone obeys laws, regulations and uses their common sense, the waterways can be a fun and enjoyable place for everyone to use. Click here for more information on boating on the Ohio River.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison De Villiers

Forbes Writer Recognizes Need for Tort Attorneys

Alison De Villiers — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:50:37 GMT

In a surprising article on Forbes. com, writer, William Baldwin, explores the important role that tort attorneys play in protecting Americans from unsafe food. He recognizes the need for tort attorneys in food-poisoning litigation, as the government has proven incapable of ensuring the safety of food on its own. Baldwin writes:

Government inspectors are on duty only some of the time, as we know from the Peanut Corp. of America fiasco. But the marketplace is a constant enforcer. Lawsuits do their part, along with the cost of recalls and the damage to brand names, to keep food companies alert. If it's expensive to make mistakes, more money will go into the detection and prevention of microbes.

Although Baldwin may disagree about the need to tort attorneys in other areas, it is undeniable that lawsuits have brought about many positive changes related to the safety of Americans. From dangerous drugs to trucking laws, tort attorneys have gotten the people's attention and forced big companies to make safer products and the government to pass laws that protect Americans. Baldwin recognizes that adding tort law to technology equals a powerful force in consumer safety. I think most of us on InjuryBoard would agree.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison De Villiers

FDA Warns Consumers About Tainted Weight Loss Products

Alison De Villiers — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:40:00 GMT

The FDA recently issued a nationwide alert to consumers about almost 70 weight loss pills that contain undeclared, active pharmacuetical ingredients that may put the health of consumers at risk. The list contains weight loss products such as Slim Fast and 3 Day Diet.

Some of the products claim to be "natural" or "herbal,", but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients that have not been approved by the FDA, such as sibutramine (a controlled substance), rimonabant (a drug not approved for marketing in the United States), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication), phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer causing agent) and bumetanide (a diuretic).

Throughout January, InjuryBoard members will be focusing on diet safety. For more information about diet safety, click here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Alison De Villiers