The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public forum May 10-11 on truck and bus safety in Washington, D.C. The forum’s purpose is to examine the progress made since the NTSB held a similar forum on the topic ten years ago. The focus will be on government oversight, carrier operations, driver training...
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Federal Government Releases Data on Medical Malpractice
Earlier this month, the federal government released data on how often patients suffer injuries from eight specific medical errors. A spokesperson from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said officials were not ready to discuss the data, however. The data comes on the heels on a report from the Office of Inspector...
Read MoreVirginia Woman Gets Two Years for Deadly Car Accident
Last month, a federal judge in Alexandria sentenced a 23-year-old woman to two years in prison for a drunk driving accident that killed one person and severely injured another in 2009. Last November, the woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and maiming while driving...
Read MoreNine Firefighters Injured in Maryland Blaze
A 10,000 square foot burning mansion injured nine firefighters last month in Huntingtown. Someone reported chimney fire at the residence shortly before midnight. When firefighters arrived, they discovered smoke from the second floor and that the fire had spread to the attic. Visibility quickly went down to zero and the blaze trapped nine firefighters...
Read MoreMetro Plans to Spend $851 Million in Improvements
A crumbling public transportation system has prompted Metro’s Board of Directors to spend $851 million in rebuilding efforts. There will not be any new rail lines or new stations. Instead, the money is going to refurbish the worst parts of the Metro transit system, which turned 35 last month. A Metro spokesperson said...
Read MoreConstruction Worker Killed on Georgetown Campus
Last month, a 36-year-old female construction worker suffered fatal injuries while working underneath the Leavey Center on the Georgetown Campus. The victim apparently trapped herself in an elevated area between the scaffolding and railing while operating a forklift-like device. The woman’s co-workers dislodged her and began administering first aid and CPR. The DC Fire...
Read MoreRenovations at DC Metro Stops Reveal Asbestos
Workers renovating the Metro’s Farragut North and Union Station stops discovered asbestos, and they are working during off hours to remove the hazardous asbestos fibers. Workers found the asbestos in the duct jointwork in mechanical rooms, under platforms and above suspended ceilings, according to a Metro...
Read MoreVirginia Man Gets Workers Comp for “Horseplay”
A workers’ compensation rule known as the “horseplay doctrine” allowed Virginia’s highest court to rule that a worker injured while lifting his arm to block ice thrown by a co-worker can receive workers comp benefits. The claimant worked at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant when co-workers began throwing ice at him. He lifted his...
Read MoreRedskins Kicker Receives Maryland Workers Comp Benefits
The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the Washington Redskins football team has to pay workers’ compensation benefits to its former kicker, Tom Tupa. The appellate ruling upholds a 2009 jury award in Prince George County Circuit Court. The jury awarded Tupa a little over one year’s worth of disability benefits. In 2005, Tupa injured...
Read MoreMetro Pipes May be Subpar for Fire Safety
A spokesperson from the D.C. Fire and EMS said the Metro standpipes that firefighters hook into during emergencies are too small. The result is that they do not carry enough water pressure, which could be a problem if a major fire started in a Metro tunnel. Fire crews carry a secondary water supply for...
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