New York Legal issues Blog

While New York experiences a number of construction projects year-round, you might start to notice a couple of sites slow down in October. The optimal season for construction is over, so many are rushing to get their projects done before winter brings in a whole new series of hazards.

Autumn is not without its obstacles in this profession. It may be nice no longer worrying as much about a heat stroke, but the winds are beginning to pick up and endanger many construction workers and their projects. Site leads should train each worker on wind safety and provide the necessary tools to help defend themselves from the larger gusts. If you see that the wind is going to be problematic on the weather forecast, you should grab the following items to safeguard yourself from the powerful breezes:

Excavations are present on almost every construction site in New York. By complying with federal and state safety regulations, trench-related construction workers' accidents can be prevented. Unfortunately, many employers would disregard employee safety to save time and money -- which are both requirements for ensuring trench safety. Typical excavation hazards include collapses and cave-ins, drowning in unexpected water accumulation, falls into trenches, strikes of utility lines, and hazardous atmospheres where poisonous gases collect in excavations.

Mitigation of all these hazards is possible by following the guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The process starts with analyzing the soil type, which will help to determine whether sloping, shoring or installing a trench box will be the suitable method to stabilize trench walls. Safe means to enter and exit the trench is essential. All equipment and activities must be kept away from the trench edges, and nothing must be suspended above the excavation.

As this year's National Football League season gets underway, some New York residents and fans around the country debate the issue of concussions and how the steps taken to prevent them affect the game. Of course, getting a concussion and subsequent brain injury is not limited to professional athletes. Players of any age may experience concussions and trauma to the brain can occur in a variety of ways. To prevent significant brain damage, a recent publication has highlighted new recommendations for diagnosing and managing mild brain injuries in children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new guidelines for pediatricians who deal with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) routinely with their patients. There was a rigorous process to create and evaluate these recommendations, which were published in a major pediatric medical journal. One major guideline was that CT scans, or computed tomography, should not be utilized on a routine basis to diagnose mTBI. Rather, those determined to be a lower risk for brain injury should be evaluated using clinical decision rules.

Kids in New York are back to school for the new year. Many children use the school bus system to get to and from their school each day. School buses are by far the safest mode of transportation for school-aged children, but accidents still happen due to improper driver conduct around school buses.

All drivers, passengers and pedestrians can do their part to decrease the risks of serious accidents during drop off and pick up times. School bus safety laws govern every vehicle and person on the road, so it’s important that everyone know what is and is not legal behaviors when travelling near these vehicles.