Injuries and Accidents

Swimming Pool Safety from the Minnesota Department of Health

2008-04-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died. (Read more about Minnesota swimming pool injuries and the deaths.) As a result, the Minnesota Department of Health is urging those who use swimming pools, including parents of young children, to protect their own health and safety when swimming:

If the water is cloudy, do not go in the pool; report it to the pool operator.
If you have been ill with diarrhea in the last two weeks, do not go in the pool.
Do not allow children who have been ill with diarrhea or vomiting in the last two weeks to swim.
Avoid swallowing pool water.
Follow all other posted pool rules, which include bathing/showering before entering the pool.
Do not drink and swim; people who are intoxicated should not be in the pool area.
Keep an eye on your child at all times.
Take your kids on frequent bathroom breaks.

“Swimming is good physical activity, and we want people to continue, but we need everyone to observe pool rules so that everyone can swim safely,” said John Linc Stine, director of environmental health for MDH.

In June of 2007, Abigail Taylor suffered serious injuries at the Minneapolis Golf Club pool in St. Louis Park that eventually led to her death. The six-year old was injured when she sat on an open drain in the wading pool; the heavy suction at the drain caused her intestinal tract to be partially removed.

Last summer, following the accident, Minnesota Department of Health issued a safety warning to licensed pool owners/operators in the state urging them to make sure drain covers were fitted and secured properly and to check them daily. In light of the serious risk that is posed to children, our lawyers suggest that parents ask pool managers if the pool drain covers are fitted and secured properly and when the pool drain covers were last checked.

More information on pool safety can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/pools/poolincidents.html.

For questions regarding injury, death or illness resulting from a swimming pool incident, please contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen.

Minnesota Swimming Pool Injuries

2008-04-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died.

June 2007: Abigail Taylor suffered serious injuries at the Minneapolis Golf Club (MGC) pool in St. Louis Park that eventually led to her death. The six-year old was injured when she sat on an open drain in the wading pool; the heavy suction at the drain caused her intestinal tract to be partially removed.
July 2007: 20 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who swam at a public pool.
September 2007: 58 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who visited a hotel water park.
November 2007: Six cases of otitis exertna (“swimmers ear”) diagnosed in guests at a hotel likely due to inadequate chlorine levels in the pool and lack of managerial oversight.
November 2007: Five cases of dermatitis, a skin infection, diagnosed in guests at a hotel likely due to inadequate chlorine levels in the pool and lack of managerial oversight.
November-December 2007: 31 cases of cryptosporidiosis diagnosed in people who swam at a public pool.
December 2007: Three people suffered chemical burns at a hotel pool due to improperly balanced pool chemistry and lack of managerial oversight.
February 2008: A 17 year-old drowned in a hotel pool after heavy drinking.
March 2008: Thirty-eight high school students and staff reported illness after a swimming pool pump was turned on while a class was in the pool area.

“The clear lesson from all of these incidents is that when proper operating procedures and pool safety rules are not followed, there can be serious consequences,” said John Linc Stine, director of environmental health for Minnesota Department of Heath.

“Proper pool operation and safe enjoyment of swimming pools requires a balance of proper physical conditions of a pool, including safety equipment, correct water chemistry, and observance of pool rules by patrons so that all swimmers are safe,” said Colleen Paulus, manager of the Minnesota Department of Health section that includes public swimming pool inspections and oversight.

If you have been injured in a Minnesota swimming pool, contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen. We have a national reputation, and lawyers at our firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. To contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free case consultation form.

Posted April 2008.

Lead Paint Poisoning: New EPA Rules

2008-03-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2008 - Children are still being exposed to lead paint in older buildings. This exposure has resulted in significant injuries to children’s brains. In an effort to further protect children from exposure to lead-based paint, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing new rules for contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities or schools built before 1978. Under the new rules, workers must follow lead-safe work practice standards to reduce potential exposure to dangerous levels of lead during renovation and repair activities.

"While there has been a dramatic decrease over the last two decades in the number of children affected by lead-poisoning, EPA is continuing its efforts to take on this preventable disease," said James Gulliford, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "Today's new rules will require contractors to be trained and to follow simple but effective lead-safe work practices to protect children from dangerous levels of lead."

The "Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program" rule, which will take effect in April 2010, prohibits work practices creating lead hazards. Requirements under the rule include implementing lead-safe work practices and certification and training for paid contractors and maintenance professionals working in pre-1978 housing, child-care facilities and schools. To foster adoption of the new measures, EPA will also conduct an extensive education and outreach campaign to promote awareness of these new requirements.

The rule covers all rental housing and non-rental homes where children under six and pregnant mothers reside. The new requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities where more than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. The affected contractors include builders, painters, plumbers and electricians. Trained contractors must post warning signs, restrict occupants from work areas, contain work areas to prevent dust and debris from spreading, conduct a thorough cleanup, and verify that cleanup was effective.

Red Lake School Shooting Case

2008-02-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Elliot Olsen, an attorney with the law firm of Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. was interviewed by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune regarding the Red Lake School shooting case. The following is an excerpt from the resulting article:

Families of people killed or injured in the 2005 Red Lake school shooting are suing a Bloomington-based environmental consulting firm that sold the school district a crisis management security plan.

Lawyers for the nearly two-dozen families said today that MacNeil Environmental, Inc., failed to create a safe school environment and properly train students, staff and law enforcement about what to do in a crisis situation.

"MacNeil sold a security plan that didn't work," said Elliot Olsen, a Minneapolis attorney who represents Steve Cobenais, one of the most severely injured students. "We intend to show that had MacNeil done its job, these deaths and injuries would have been prevented."

They are also representing a handful of former school employees in three separate lawsuits against MacNeil.

The suits say MacNeil was hired by the Red Lake district in 2002 to create a security plan for the district on the remote Indian reservation in northern Minnesota. The suits specifically mention the March 21, 2005 shootings that left 10 dead - including teenage gunman Jeff Weise.

Weise, 16, killed his grandfather and grandfather's girlfriend at their home, then drove to the school and opened fire, killing a security guard, a teacher and five students before taking his own life .

Olsen said that the company was served with the suits last Friday.

Rinnai Furnace Recall Due to Possible Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2008-02-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

On February 21, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 52,000 Rinnai Direct-Vent Wall Furnaces, Models RHFE 431 RHFE 556 due to possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Rinnai American Corporation, of Peachtree City, Georgia, has received 11 reports of carbon monoxide leaking from the furnace.

The recall involves Rinnai EnergySaver Direct-Vent Wall Furnaces, Models RHFE 431 and RHFE 556. They are either natural gas or LP gas (propane) fueled. The following model numbers are included in the recall:

Model RHFE-431	FAIII-N	FAIII-P
	WTA-N	WTA-P
	WTA-72B-N	WTA-76B-N

Model RHFE-556	FAIII-N	FAIII-P
	WTA-N	WTA-P

The model number is printed on the top of the rating plate located on the right side of the unit. The recall includes only those units manufactured from February 2000 through December 2007. The manufacturing date code is the first four digits of the serial number, written as YY MM, and is located at the bottom of the rating plate.

According to the Rinnai furnace recall announcement, a gasket in the unit can fail, posing a risk of poisonous carbon monoxide gas leaking into the home. Carbon monoxide death or serious injury due to carbon monoxide poisoning may result in actionable product liability, premises liability, workers’ compensation and other claims. A carbon monoxide poisoning lawyer should be consulted regarding liability and compensation in a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit.

To contact one of our experienced lawyers, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.

Louisville Ladder Recall: Extension Ladder Fall and Injury

2008-02-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

On February 20, 2008, yhe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 25,000 “Louisville/Davidson” and “Michigan” brand fiberglass extension ladders due to a possible fall hazard. The recalled ladders are Type I, IA, or II extension ladders with fiberglass rails and “D” shaped aluminum rungs. The following models are included in the recall:

Louisville/Davidson brand
534-24	618-24	FE1724	FE3228	L-3022-24PT
534-28	618-28	FE1728	FE3228-010002	L-3022-28PT
534-32		FE3224	FE3228-740037	L-3022-32PT
534-36		FE3224-E03	FE3228-E03	L-3121-24
534-40		FE3224-E08	FE3228-E03E34
578-24		FE3224-LO32	FE3232
578-28			FE3232-E03
578-32			FE3236
			FE3240
Michigan brand
386124
386128
386132
386136
386140

According to the Louisville ladder recall announcement, the recall involves only models manufactured from September 2007 through October 2007. The model number and the manufacturing date code are located on the left side rail of the ladders. Ladders with two green dots near the bottom of the left side base rail have already been inspected or repaired and are not included in the recall.

According to the manufacturer, Louisville Ladder Inc., of Louisville, Kentucky, the extension or “fly” section can fail to lock, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Anyone injured on a recalled “Louisville/Davidson” or “Michigan” brand fiberglass extension ladder should consult an attorney regarding a possible product liability lawsuit. If you were injured at work, an attorney should be consulted regarding amounts recoverable under workers’ compensation, product liability, premises liability, and other possible claims. To contact a lawyer at our law firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free consultation form.

GE Gas Dryer Recall Due to Possible Shock Hazard

2008-02-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

On February 11, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 2,100 GE gas clothes dryers due to possible electric shock hazard. The recalled gas dryers are 42 inches tall (back with backsplash) and 27 inches wide, and were sold in white. GE gas dryers model number DWXR463GGWW with serial numbers starting with AM, TL, SL, VL, and ZL are included in this recall. To find the model and serial numbers, open the dryer door and look in the upper right corner, in the area that was covered by the door.

According to the GE gas clothes dryer recall announcement, a short circuit in the dryer’s wiring poses a shock hazard to consumers with ungrounded dryers. People suffering electrical shock injuries involving the recalled GE gas clothes may have claims against GE and others under product liability laws. An experienced electrical shock attorney should be consulted regarding liability and compensation for electrical shock injuries.

EPA Examining Health Risks of Nanoscale Chemical Products

2008-02-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, February 20, 2008, the EPA is hosting an interactive forum to discuss the health and environmental risks of nanoscale chemical products. Consumers can ask questions like, "How are the nano chemicals in spray-on suntan lotion affecting my child's brain?" Inquiring minds would like to know.

The interactive forum is at 1 p.m. EDT. It will be hosted by James Gulliford, assistant administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.

Questions submitted online will be answered by EPA officials during the one-hour live session and posted to EPA's Web site as a transcript so that others may also benefit from the discussion.
For more information or to receive e-mail alerts on upcoming hosts and topics, visit the Ask EPA page on our Web site: http://www.epa.gov/askepa.

Arsenic Testing for Minnesota Children

2007-11-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

The following information on arsenic testing for Minnesota children living near a polluted site in South Minneapolis is from a Minnesota Department of Health press release. Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading Minnesota personal injury law firm, is providing it here as a public service.

The Minnesota Department of Health is proposing a biomonitoring pilot project to measure arsenic levels in 100 children who live near the CMC Heartland Site in south Minneapolis. Arsenic-containing pesticides were manufactured and stored at the site between 1938 and 1963. The site is an approximately five-acre triangular lot between 28th Street and Hiawatha Avenue on the south and east and railroad tracks and a warehouse to the west.

The pilot project will help to determine whether children in south Minneapolis have elevated levels of arsenic in their bodies. For those children who are found to have elevated arsenic levels, their parents or guardians will be advised to bring the child to a health care provider for follow-up. Also, the family will be given information to help them determine all of the ways they might be exposed to arsenic (including the soil, green-treated lumber, foods, dietary supplements, and cigarette smoke) and to take steps to reduce the exposure in the future.

This pilot project stems from state legislation that was passed in 2007, directing MDH to develop and implement a statewide Environmental Health Tracking and Biomonitoring (EHTB) program.

Environmental health tracking is the ongoing collection, integration, analysis, and dissemination of data on human exposures to chemicals in the environment and on diseases potentially caused or aggravated by those chemicals. Data for environmental health tracking are generally gathered from existing sources, such as statewide surveys and assessments. When tracked over time, environmental health data will help researchers, policy makers, and public health authorities to recognize patterns, identify populations that are most affected, and identify actions to protect public health.

Biomonitoring directly measures the amount of a chemical (or products that the chemical breaks down into) in people’s bodies. In order to measure the chemical, a sample of a person’s urine, hair, blood, or some other body tissue or fluid is tested.

“Biomonitoring measurements can be a good way to determine exposure to a chemical – especially for chemicals that linger in the body – because they indicate the amount of the chemical that actually gets into people, rather than the amount that could potentially get into them,” said Jean Johnson, Environmental Health Tracking & Biomonitoring (EHTB) program director. Biomonitoring data have the potential to show changes in exposures to chemicals over time, to identify and assess groups of people who are at high risk for exposure, and to help decision makers target interventions to reduce exposure to chemicals in the environment. Biomonitoring projects measure only the exposure to chemicals and are not able to determine whether specific illnesses or health conditions are caused by exposure to those chemicals.

Participation in the project is voluntary, however, participants will be chosen based on a number of demographic and exposure factors, in order to yield the most meaningful data for the projects, Johnson said. The project will likely begin in the summer of 2008.

For more information go to www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/tracking.

Lawnmower Accident Lawsuit

2007-10-11T12:48:00.001-07:00

Richard Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer with Pritzker Ruohonen and Associates in Minneapolis, Minn., is representing a family whose 8-year-old daughter was severely injured in a backover accident on a farm two years ago. The girl's father was using the farm owner's utility tractor to mow around the trailer where he lived with his family. The girl came up behind him and was caught in the mower blades. Learn More