Premises Liability
Prevent Slip-and-Fall Accidents This Cold Winter Season in Oklahoma
This winter season, Oklahoma is expected to experience some exceptionally cold climates, with the arctic air bringing temperatures to low double digits and strong northerly winds causing single digit wind chills. Citizens of the Sooner State should bundle up, keep warm, and stay inside whenever they can. If you do need to go out, however, please keep these safety tips in mind to prevent slip and fall accidents, which cause many serious injuries and deaths, especially during winter.
- Keep your hands out of your pockets. You may be tempted to keep your hands inside your snug, warm pockets, but doing so will leave you vulnerable to injuries. If you slip, your hands and arms may be the only things between you and a hard, serious injury-inducing landing.
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How to Keep Children Safe from Dog Attacks
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.5 million Americans are bitten by a dog each year. Of those incidents, one in five requires medical attention. There are steps you can take to help decrease the chances of you and your loved ones being victim to one of these devastating accidents.
Children are at the greatest risk of suffering a serious injury in a dog attack. The CDC reports that the rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years old, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites. Children need to be taught early and often that not all dogs are safe, and that they should not approach dogs they do not know without parental supervision.
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Emergency Rescue in Oklahoma School Elevator Prompts Safety Questions
A recent emergency situation in an Oklahoma City school elevator concluded with a positive ending; however, it left serious questions about the safety of the premises and potential negligence on the part of inspections.
Local authorities were called to respond to a 911 emergency at the Classen School for Advanced Studies when three middle school girls became trapped in an elevator shaft with approximately one foot of space separating them from the elevator above. The elevator, which was installed in the school in the mid 1990s, is intended for use only by students who cannot utilize the stairway, and a key is needed to gain access. The old style elevator contains a door/ gate opening system that is meant to lock if the elevator is in motion. Officials are investigating how the girls were able to both enter and exit the elevator if it was in motion, or why they did, according to reporting by News OK. The girls were removed successfully by emergency personnel and reportedly sustained no significant injuries.
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Safety Tips for Preventing Residential Fires and Burn Injuries
Every family should spend time developing and practicing a plan for fire prevention, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Both groups are encouraging families make this plan as part of their collaborative campaign on Fire Prevention Week.
The CPSC cited data that shows there were over 386,000 accidental home fires every year from 2006 to 2008. Those fires caused approximately 2,400 fatalities and over 12,500 injuries annually. The fire prevention initiative, in action during October 9 to October 15, stresses the correlation between preparedness and prevention. They provided a set of government approved safety guidelines, including a few of the tips listed below.
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What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Oklahoma
Property owners in Oklahoma have an obligation to keep their premises safe and in good repair for visitors, employees, and any other individuals that plan to enter that premises. Unfortunately, many property owners or managers do not fulfill this obligation. Whether due to stinginess, laziness, or any other reason, not performing their duty to provide a safe environment constitutes negligence. The most common result of Oklahoma property negligence is a slip and fall accident.
Evidence of an improperly maintained property can be found in a variety of places, but an improperly maintained floor is often the cause of a slip and fall accident in Oklahoma. Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
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Worker Safety Strategies for Avoiding Tulsa Slip and Falls
Personal injuries resulting from slip and falls in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma still remain high in spite of numerous safety regulations to reduce accidents at corporations and other places of businesses. Although businesses hold a duty of providing a safe workplace, the truth is that sometimes this does not always occur.
Employees can be severely injured in slip and falls, breaking bones and even suffering concussions. In more serious instances, slip and falls can be fatal.
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Class Action Suit Filed against Beechmont Plant after Chemical Spill
Facilities that house dangerous materials must take every available precaution in ensuring that the surrounding community is safe, and should be even more vigilant in ensuring the safety of their employees. However, as a recent chemical spill in Beechmont illustrates, people in the surrounding area of a chemical plant are still at significant risk in the event an accident does occur. According to a Courier Journal article, a class-action lawsuit has been filed by affected-Beechmont residents who sustained injury as a result of the spill.
Reportedly, a chemical spill at the Nuplex Resins plant resulted in chemical vapors seeping into sewer pipes and into the city’s water supply, affecting nearby residents in the process. The lawsuit cites loss of property value as one result of the chemical accident, and at least one diagnosed incident of chemical exposure. The plant manufactures resin for industrial-grade paints, and has had a spotty track record of wastewater disposal since the year 2000. Compensation for loss of property values and adverse health consequences are being sought after in the suit.
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