A serious concern on Tennessee roads and throughout the nation, underage drinking and driving is being addressed in a new ad campaign launched in October 2015 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council. The public service effort is aimed at reducing this cause of teen accidents and fatalities. Statistics indicate that motor vehicle accidents account for a significant number of teen deaths in the nation, and in at least 50 percent of these deaths, decedents are drivers. An estimated one-fourth of teen drivers involved in motor vehicle fatalities have been under the influence of alcohol.
Road deaths fall by more than a third in three years
Tennessee residents who deal with traffic congestion and distracted drivers on a daily basis may be surprised to learn that the nation's roads have become far safer in the last few years. The number of lives lost in fatal motor vehicle accidents fell by more than a third between 2011 and 2014, and 2014 saw the fewest highway deaths ever recorded. The introduction of passive safety features such as airbags and electronic braking systems in the 1980s are credited with beginning the drop in road deaths, and more advanced safety technology is thought to be largely responsible for the recent surge in accident survival.
Lifting device could greatly increase workplace safety
Tennessee HVAC workers may have heard about a piece of equipment that could ultimately take the place of ladders at the workplace and thus potentially decrease the amount of injuries. One such apparatus, known as the JLG LiftPod personal portable lift, serves as both a lift and a secure platform and can be easily managed by employees because it weights just under 140 lbs.
Some of America's most dangerous civilian occupations
Throughout Tennessee, employees face many work-related dangers daily. The Bureau of Labor Statistics annually conducts a Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and preliminary data for 2014 reveals that the number of recorded work-related fatal injuries around the country was up by 2 percent from 2013's rates. The total on-the-job injuries that proved fatal amounted to 4,585 in 2013, while the total for 2014 was 4,679.
Proposed OSHA rule clarifies reporting requirements
Tennessee employers may soon have clarification regarding Occupational Safety and Health Administration reporting requirements if a proposed rule passes. OSHA requires employers to keep records of an on-the-job injury or illness for five years. The agency is considering amending the law due to an April 2012 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
