A New York City safety agency recently compiled a ranking of the most dangerous cities in the world for pedestrians. Cities outside of the United States fared considerably better, as American cities dominated the list. The most dangerous city in the world for pedestrians is Atlanta, with 10.97 deaths per 100,000 residents. Washington, D.C....
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Virginia Boy Killed in Accident While Riding on Back of Father’s Motorcycle
Motorcycle use in Northern Virginia has increased substantially in recent years. In 1994, there were just under 60,000 motorcycle registrations. In 2008, there were 177,147. With the increased popularity of motorcycles, however, also comes an increase in accidents and deaths. There were over 2,000 motorcycle accidents and 71 deaths in Virginia in 2009, and...
Read MoreConsumer Safety Experts Recommend Cordless Window Coverings after Maryland Baby Dies in Accident
With window cords injuring or killing many babies and toddlers over the years, experts at the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) have called on parents to switch to cordless window coverings. In 2009, companies recalled nearly 5.5 million window shades and blinds that posed dangers to children after three deaths and seven near strangulations....
Read MoreMaryland Workplace Deaths Rise Despite Nationwide Drop
A report from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that workplace deaths in Maryland increased in 2009, rising to 65 from 60 the previous year. Washington, D.C. workplace fatalities numbered 10 in 2009, up from 9 in 2008, and Virginia saw a decrease from 156 to 118. Nationwide, 4,340 workers died...
Read MoreFairfax Teenager Killed in Electrical Accident while Trimming Trees
Unfortunately, accidents stemming from tree trimming remain all too common. A Washington man died last month when a falling tree part struck him on the head. A Richmond, Virginia worker died earlier in the year after a branch he was cutting fell onto a power line and electrocuted him. If negligence or poor safety...
Read MoreWashington DC Construction Worker Falls from Bucket Lift
Falls are the leading cause of fatalities for construction workers, with 400 to 500 deaths resulting from falls each year in the United States. They account for nearly one-third of all deaths in the construction industry. Some of the most common falls are those that occur from roofs, which can result from unprotected...
Read MoreMaryland Construction Worker Dies after Excavator Strikes Him in the Head
A 34-year-old Maryland construction worker died in a construction accident a few weeks ago. An employee of W.F. Wilson & Sons Inc., the man was working at a residential construction site when an excavator hit him in the head. These large machines range in size from several tons to several hundred tons of...
Read MoreArlington Construction Worker Dies after Falling 7 Stories While Installing Balcony Railing
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that falls from heights are responsible for one-third of construction fatalities. Employers could have prevented many of these. Safety precautions that save lives are no mystery. Such things as personal fall arrest systems, guardrails, harnesses, and safety nets make construction work safer. Too often, however, workers...
Read MoreFederal Safety Board Blasts DC Metro for Negligent Safety Attitude and Defective Machinery
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) recently completed its investigation of the DC Metro accident that killed nine people in June of 2009. The accident occurred just after 5 p.m. during the busy rush hour commute home. A red line Metro train slammed into the back of another one outside of Fort...
Read MoreDC-Based Chemical Safety Board Sent to Pennsylvania to Investigate 2 Deaths in Explosion at Zinc Plant
Representatives from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, a Washington, D.C.-based federal agency, recently visited a zinc plant in Pennsylvania after an explosion killed two workers and injured two more. The two killed were members of the United Steelworkers Local 8183 union and died as a result of suffocation from smoke inhalation. If unsafe...
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