Many New Jersey residents work in dangerous occupations. It may come as no surprise to them that 4,821 people died from work-related injuries in the United States in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The figure was revised upward from the 4,679 deaths listed in a preliminary report released in September 2015. Overall, there were 3.4 injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2014, which is up slightly from 2013's injury rate of 3.3. The uptick represents the first time the fatal injury rate has increased since 2010.
Baby swing recall affects thousands of Fisher-Price swings
New Jersey parents need to be aware of yet another recall of a defective product designed for infants. The recall covers around 34,000 cradle swings manufactured by Fisher-Price.
Some facts about child support
New Jersey child support cases can be complicated, confusing and contentious. However, when both parties have a clear understanding of the child support system, misunderstandings can often be avoided.
Frustrations parents have with child custody decisions
When New Jersey parents get divorced, one parent is often granted primary physical custody of their children while the other is typically given some visitation rights. However, in many cases, this results in the non-custodial parent being shut out, even when they share legal custody.
Communication tower workers face on-the-job dangers
Communication tower workers in New Jersey and across the U.S. face danger every day. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 36 tower workers died on the job between 2011 and 2015 and more must be done to ensure worker safety.
Cellphones and distracted driving
Most people in New Jersey have cellphones and other electronics upon which they rely. In-car systems installed in vehicle dashboards make life more convenient, but using the systems or talking on cellphones while driving may lead to serious accidents. Like most other states, New Jersey bans texting while driving, but even hands-free technology can cause a motorist to be inattentive.
Teenage driver killed by recalled Takata airbag
The nationwide recall of Takata airbags has affected many vehicle owners in New Jersey and the rest of the United States. Covering approximately 24 million vehicles, the Takata recall has been the largest U.S. vehicle recall in history. Despite warnings from auto manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are still some vehicles that have not had their defective airbags repaired.
Sleep disorders and work injury rates
According to a study conducted in Canada, workers in New Jersey and around the country who have sleep apnea are twice as likely to get hurt on the job. They are three times more likely to trip, fall or get burned as well. The study looked at 1,236 patients at a British Columbia Hospital clinic who were screened for obstructive sleep apnea from May 2003 to July 2010.
Staying current on product recalls
Stronger oversight significantly reduced the number of recalls related to children's products. Officials believe that the recall rate in that period was the lowest in the past 10 to 15 years. Overall, there were 68 recalls that took 5.5 million products off of the market in New Jersey and around the country according to the nonprofit group Kids in Action. Many of the items recalled were clothing or nursery products.
