Author: Ira Slavit

Exploding Cell Phones

In this day and age, cell phones have become indispensable for most people.  With any device which has batteries and a charging apparatus, there are product defects that can possibly cause personal injury.  There have been cases of cell phones exploding while charging, shocking users, and most recently, causing second-degree burns.

Many cases have involved a defective battery.  A college student at the University of Guelph in Canada was sleeping when her smartphone exploded, catching fire.  Her phone was not charging at the time, and the cell phone company claims the battery was not the genuine one sold with … Read the rest

Dangers Construction Workers Face When Working on Tall Buildings

According to Politico New York, construction worker injuries in New York City have increased 34 percent from the 2014 fiscal year (July 2013-June 2014) to the last fiscal year which ended on June 30, 2015.  This increased the number of injuries to 283, and the amount of fatalities to 11.  In 2014, the total value of construction projects was $26.2 billion.  By June of 2015, the estimated value has already reached $22.2 billion.  With the number of construction projectsin New York City increasing, it is no surprise that resulting construction worker injuries are on the rise as well.

Recently, … Read the rest

Litigants Claim Talcum Powder Causes Cancer

Talcum powder is a hydrated magnesium silicate and most often seen in its popular baby powder form.  Women also use talcum powder for personal hygiene and cosmetic purposes. Recently, there have been claims that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer, and that manufacturers have looked the other way.

Recently, the household brand name of Johnson & Johnson has come under attack. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) manufactures a diverse line of products ranging from baby powder to antipsychotic drugs.  With so many varied products, J&J has been sued multiple times in the past for product defects and personal injuries. According to Bloomberg.com, … Read the rest

Scaffolds Raising the New York City Skyline are Raising Concern

New York City sidewalk sheds (the open scaffolds you walk under) are well on their way to becoming as synonymous with the Big Apple as hot-dog carts and yellow-taxi cabs. With the influx of construction, NYC sidewalk sheds and scaffolding have devoured thousands of streets and have become more than just an eyesore for residents; they’re safety hazards.

According to the Department of Building, there are currently 9,000 sheds on the city’s streets, up from 3,500 in 2003. Although many attribute the rise in sheds and scaffolding to the boom in construction, the underlying reason lies within city legislation. Thirty-six … Read the rest

Nurses Found to Be Side-Stepping Infection Precautions

A study conducted by researchers from one of Long Island’s largest health care entities discovered that fewer than 1 in 5 nurses comply with guidelines for standard precautions for infection prevention. The study conducted by researchers from Northwell Health (formerly North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Systems) surveyed 116 ambulatory care nurses to measure self-reported compliance with standard precautions, knowledge of hepatitis C virus and the behavioral factors that influenced their compliance. The inconsistency associated with nurses’ behavior to adhere to standard precautions put them and their patients at risk for acquiring a blood-borne infection.

Standard precautions are the minimum … Read the rest

Button Batteries In Your Child’s Toy Could Be Cause for Concern

Tragedy struck two days after Christmas for one Oklahoma family when a two-year-old toddler died six days after swallowing a button battery.

The day after Christmas, Brianna Florer of Jay, Oklahoma, began exhibiting signs that something was wrong.  The next day, her condition worsened and the family drove Brianna from their rural home to meet an ambulance. Despite emergency surgery efforts, the child did not survive.

Young children swallowing lithium batteries has become a dangerous trend in recent months. According to Dr. Kris Jantana, more than 3,500 children, most under the age of 6, were hospitalized last year as a … Read the rest

Hoverboards Spark Safety Concerns

Hoverboards have become very popular among the pre-teen and teenage population, and have been given as many holiday gifts this year.  However, safety concerns have arisen concerning hoverboards, which require the user to balance as the board moves at a rate of over ten miles per hour. In many instances, users fail to wear helmets. With the rate of how quickly the hoverboards can move, this can create a dangerous situation for the user. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 29 emergency room visits related to hoverboard use were reported since August 2015.

According to Consumerreports.org, one recent … Read the rest

Toy Safety for Children During the Holidays

Defective children’s toys present inherent hazards to those of all ages.  While younger children may be more prone to choking on small items, older children are more prone to taking risks and misusing toys in what can sometimes be a dangerous manner.  A defective children’s toy can increase those risks as well as present others.

From 2012 to 2013, the number of recalls related to children’s products increased by 18%.  It is important to be aware of any product recalls for children’s toys that can arise during the holiday season and year round.  This means keeping an eye out on … Read the rest

Avoiding Slip and Fall Accidents During the Holidays

The holidays are a time for enjoying the festivities with friends and family.  Many people are busy shopping, decorating, and completing their holiday tasks.  At such a busy time, nothing can ruin the season more than an accident.  However, 1.9 million slip and fall accidents occur each holiday season with falls from roofs and ladders being responsible for 56% of injuries.

Slip and fall accidents can arise under a number of circumstances during the holidays.  For example, they can occur at shopping malls, while decorating, at holiday parties, outdoors, etc.  Liability arises depending on where the accident occurred and who … Read the rest

Deadline Passes to Register Cooling Towers Under New Law Passed After Worst Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in NYC History

August of this year was marked by the worst outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City history.  Twelve people died and more than 100 people got sick.  This prompted the City to pass a law requiring the registration of cooling towers, fluid coolers and evaporative condensers with the City. The deadline for registering just passed this Thursday, September 17, 2015.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled similar statewide regulations requiring building owners to register, test, inspect and disinfect all cooling towers when necessary.

The New York City Buildings Department is developing a registry of buildings with cooling towers and … Read the rest