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Safety/Health

You smoke, you’re fired! Lessons from the Whirlpool Case

04/29/2008
The dangers of smoking are well documented: heart disease and cancer, shorter life expectancy, higher health care expenses. Now add another risk: As workers in Indiana just found out, smoking could get you fired. Was their employer justified in taking action, or did it step into a legal quagmire?

Lack of screening did not prove negligence in truck accident

04/22/2008
In September 2004, Martin King and Tobias Ledzema were both driving tractor-trailers in Lake County when Ledzema’s trailer struck King’s. King sued Ledzema’s employer, Fierro Trucking, based in Illinois, alleging negligent hiring and supervision …

A bomb or … a vegetable?

04/22/2008
A bomb squad in Fort Wayne spent several hours investigating a suspicious package sent to the Haller & Colvin law firm. Employees opened the package to find a blue gift bag. They called authorities …

Imperial Sugar refinery blast was preventable, agency says

04/21/2008
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member William Wright believes better housekeeping could have prevented the explosion at the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth that killed 12 workers in February …

Cops: Man seeks revenge, kills 2 employees, bystander

04/21/2008
Police say Charles Johnston went to Doctors Hospital in Columbus on March 28 armed with guns stuffed into his coat and pants pockets, looking for nurse Peter Wright …

Ag-Mart settles with parents in insecticide lawsuit

04/14/2008
Ag-Mart Produce, a Plant City-based tomato grower, has settled a lawsuit with a farm-working couple whose baby was born without limbs. The settlement terms were undisclosed. Francisca Herrera and Abraham Candelario testified that they worked in Ag-Mart fields in Florida and North Carolina in 2004 …

House passes bill allowing guns in workplace parking lots

04/14/2008
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting employers from banning guns from their properties. HB 503 guarantees employees the right to keep legally owned guns locked inside their cars as long as they have permits to carry concealed weapons …

And you thought the prisoners were crabby before

04/10/2008
The Michigan State Department of Corrections has announced plans to ban smoking by prisoners and staff early next year. About 70% of the state’s more than 50,000 prisoners are smokers …

Prithee, hast thou a light for my pipe?

04/08/2008
When Minnesota’s ban on smoking in restaurants and bars took effect in October, some astute restaurateurs noted it provided an exception for actors, who may light up during performances. Since then, about 30 establishments have made productions of themselves, printing up playbills, posting “Stage Entrance” and “Props Dept.” signs, and generally making merry …

Good health incentives in the workplace

04/01/2008
Q. Our staff is wondering why we haven’t implemented a wellness program at work to motivate people to learn and practice good health habits. Are there any restrictions on this? …