Panish Shea & Boyle Blog

In an attempt to kill insects drawn to buses by the food left behind by passengers, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority regularly sprays Los Angeles County buses with pesticides.  But are these same chemicals making the drivers of the buses and perhaps even the passengers ill?

That’s what has been alleged by a group of at least 14 drivers in the midst of pursuing workers’ compensation from the agency.  Since 2011, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has received complaints from three bus operators.  Drivers have reported experiencing things like eye and skin irritation, nausea, headaches, and trouble breathing.

At the moment, no passengers have complained about the same, although anecdotal evidence from drivers suggests that odors can lead to vocal complaints.  The Bus Riders Union and other groups worry that susceptible demographics, such as kids and elderly persons, might be getting sick and not know that the issue stems from the buses.

For their part, the MTA has downplayed the risk and said that steps are taken to ensure safety and compliance with standards across the industry.  But although pyrethrin-based pesticides are widely thought to be safer than other types, the EPA has identified an increase in the number of reported health issues.

Drivers detail how they have had to cut their shift short due to the onset of flu-like symptoms.  They also say that warning signage isn’t as common as the MTA claims.

A new book from the Chief of Infectious Disease at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia attempts to make consumers more aware of the dangers of alternative medicine and dietary supplements.  The author wrote “Do You Believe in Magic?  The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine” so that people could begin to understand that regulation of alternative medicine is far sparser than the drug industry and that the entire alternative medicine industry rakes in $34 billion a year, far from the small-scale, mom-and-pop operation many might think of.  A representative from California is one of the lawmakers who would like to see more regulatory control of such substances, but he acknowledges the push-back from that same industry.

Follow this link for more about the book.

A Russian company has developed a motorcycle helmet that seeks to dramatically improve safety for riders.  Known as LiveMap, the device features a series of directional and informational feeds displayed directly on the rider’s visor.  In this manner, the rider is able to see a map of the area along with their current path, and they can issue simple voice prompts in order to sift through the information or contact authorities in the event of an emergency.  And to ensure that distraction doesn’t get the best of riders, the amount of and space occupied by information decreases as speed picks up so that focus can be on the road and not the display.  The LiveMap won’t be available until next year and will cost $2,000 for those who fail to pre-order by June.

For more about LiveMap, click here.

A Hayward, California-based company is recalling 92 shower stools because of an issue that could compromise safety.  Importer Taymor Industries announced the recall, which affects teak shower stools with a model number of 02D8092 that were sold online and in a Hammacher Schlemmer New York City store.  The stools’ wooden seats are in danger of breaking, potentially causing the person sitting on the unit to sustain fall-related injuries.  11 instances of breakage have been reported, but none of those reportedly led the user to sustain an injury.  Owners are being advised to cease usage and send one leg of the stools in a prepaid mailer to Hammacher Schlemmer.  The company will use that leg as a proof of purchase and issue a refund and gift certificate to the consumer.

For more about the recall, click here.

If you noticed an increase in the number of motorcyclists on the road today, you’re not imagining things.  Today was Ride to Work Day, an event that invites motorcyclists to do just that in order to spread awareness about the importance of safety, visibility, and sharing the road.  To help commemorate the event, the AAA Foundation has provided a number of safety tips that should limit accidents not only today, but this entire summer.

Visibility is one of the most important issues to consider.  If a driver is unable to see a motorcyclist, he or she is unable to safely operate around such vehicles.  For drivers, that means paying constant attention to blind spots, while for motorcyclists, it means putting on bright, reflective clothing that will naturally draw the eye.

Motorcyclists should take to the road in a mindset that other drivers can’t see them.  That way, every move can be geared toward ensuring visibility is improved.  To avoid blind spots, riders ought to monitor the left tire of a leading vehicle and stay in line with and keep a safe distance from such.

Although lane splitting is legal in the state of California, it might not always be the best idea.  When you crowd other vehicles, you leave yourself open to a potential calamity if an automobile operator makes a sudden move.  You thus should think twice before lane splitting; instead, leave space between you and other automobiles and let vehicles keep the lanes to themselves.

Many accidents take place at intersections.  Automobiles may pull out when the light turns green without looking for motorcycles.  It’s going to be up to riders to take extra caution when approaching an intersection.  If the light turns yellow, do what you can to stop in time, assuming that it’s possible to do so safely.

Improving your ability to make such rapid stops is also going to be an important part of encouraging safety.  Submit to one of the many courses around the state and the country which offer such instruction, or if you don’t want to do that, travel to an empty parking lot and practice.  Get up to speed before decelerating rapidly, and continue attempting the maneuver until you can do so without your tires sliding out from under you.

Be cognizant of obstacles that present themselves along the road.  A randomly strewn piece of debris is nothing for an automobile, but for a motorcyclist can turn dangerous.  If you’re riding at night, watch the movements of other vehicles; if their taillights suddenly shift, it could be a sign that you should do the same.

Finally, wear appropriate safety equipment.  A helmet and riding leathers are essential to protecting yourself in the event of an accident.

Although it’s not all that common to see snakes in more populated areas of California like Los Angeles, the reptiles are abundant along hiking trails and various scenic parts of the state.  That said, you need to have a safety plan in mind if ever you find yourself the victim of a snake bite, especially one from a rattlesnake.  A new report explains how.

The best way to promote safety is to prepare to ward off a bite before it occurs.  Snakes are attracted to things like wood piles, bird feeders, and rock-retaining walls, as they make easy hiding spots.  Whenever you approach any of the above to conduct work, have a long stick you can use to tap the structure and see what slithers out.

If you ever encounter a snake, don’t attempt to handle it yourself.  You should call a local agency that can come and collect the reptile.  Or, if you’re on a hiking trail, simply give the snake a wide berth.

When you’re bitten, don’t panic.  Take a mental picture of the type of snake so you can reference it to medical personnel.  Stop moving the bite site and take off things like rings which can cause pain once swelling begins.  Seek out emergency medical assistance immediately, and contrary to what you may believe, don’t have someone suck out the venom.

With summer almost here, it’s important to revisit some of the precautions that need to be taken to ensure safety when the weather warms up.  Thus, the following tips from the Red Cross as contained in a new report out of Oklahoma would be worth brushing up on.

Perhaps the easiest way to avoid the threat of intense temperatures is to stay inside when the sun is at its hottest.  Air conditioning obviously helps you avoid heat-related illnesses, but if such a thing is unavailable, move to the lowest floor of whatever structure you’re in and take steps to increase shade.  And although you might turn on a fan, realize that it’s simply moving the air around rather than reducing the temperature.

If you exercise or otherwise have to conduct strenuous activities outdoors, do it before 7 am if possible.  Should it be necessary to be outside later than that, give yourself a number of rest breaks.  Wear appropriate lightweight clothing and a hat that can protect your skin.  Drink plenty of water and consume light meals every once in a while so that you’re well-nourished.

Also be sure to look out for those persons who could be more susceptible to heat-based illness.  If you know someone who doesn’t have air conditioning, check in on them to see how they’re doing.  The same goes for persons who are elderly or ill.  Even call your friends and family every once in awhile to verify their safety.

We’re not even into summer yet and already large swaths of the country have been impacted by storms.  If you live in an area prone to such weather, you may find yourself investing in a generator so that you can be sure you’ll have power even during disasters.  If so, then consider some of the safety information provided in a new article from Consumer Reports.

First, figure out if your home will benefit more from a portable or stationary generator.  The latter is somewhat easier to maintain.  After a dealer comes out and installs the unit, you’re pretty much good to go, as the unit will typically come with a propane or natural gas tank.  Such models also start on a regular schedule so that tests can be run and their abilities can always be assured.

With portable generators, you have to be willing to invest the time and preparation necessary to ensure safety.  You must have a safe storage area available with which to keep fuel.  You also have to conduct regular maintenance, otherwise you could find that the unit doesn’t start when you need it to.

With either type, avoid carbon monoxide poisoning at all costs.  Both models should be kept a sufficient distance away from the home, and at no point should a portable unit be brought inside or even in an area that is anything but completely open.

This past Friday, police in the city of La Mesa took part in an anti-distracted driving operation made possible through funds supplied by the NHTSA and the California Office of Traffic Safety.  For six hours, the Traffic Safety Enforcement Program was in effect, and as a result, 56 people found themselves on the receiving end of a ticket for a cellphone-related violation.  The operation was chiefly aimed at those persons caught texting or talking on their phones at the wheel.  Although initial fines begin at $20, that number can increase drastically once court costs are taken into account, and if the driver has already been pulled over before for a similar violation, they can expect to pay even more.

For more about the operation, follow this link.

Two types of GMC Envoy and Chevy Trailblazer vehicles as well as SAAB 9-7x, Isuzu Ascender, and Buick Rainier vehicles of the 2006 and 2007 model years are being recalled by General Motors.  A whopping 193,652 automobiles are potentially encompassed within the scope of the recall, which was issued once it was discovered that moisture can seep into the module of the driver’s door, prompting corrosion and possibly a short circuit.  The problems with this are twofold:  overheating could melt vehicle components and lead to a fire, or the power windows and doors would cease to function.  Because the fire is possible even when the vehicle is parked, owners are being advised to keep the vehicles outside and away from something like a garage until free repairs can be obtained from a dealer.

Click here for more about the recall.