According to recently released statistics, the top 10 most frequently cited violations in 2010 each brought in over a $1 million in penalties and fines:

In addition to fines collected from these frequent workplace safety violations, OSHA also implemented large penalties following the occurrence of several large industrial accidents. Topping the list of large fines levied included an $80 million penalty imposed on the gas giant BP. Surprisingly, though, BP's violations were not a result of the massive Gulf oil spill, but rather due to a follow-up investigation from a 2005 Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers and injured another 170 employees. BP paid a number of fines immediately following the explosion, but failed to fix many of the safety violations.

Source: Keep employees safe to avoid top violations, heavy OSHA fines

Tip #2: Read the Fine Print

Many policies have restrictions and coverage limitations buried in the fine print. You may be surprised at what is covered and what is not. Some of the common coverages and restrictions that people aren't often aware of include:

• Many car insurance policies will cover injuries to your pet if it is riding in the car with you during an accident.
• Unless you carry comprehensive coverage, damages to your car due to vandalism, theft or caused by the weather are not usually covered.
• Lending your car to someone does not mean that that person is covered by your insurance policy. Drivers not explicitly listed on your policy (or added in a rider that covers anyone you lend your car to) are not usually covered by your insurance, so if they cause a car accident your insurance company might not pay for the damages to your vehicle.
• Many policies have strict notification requirements, such as notifying the company within 30 days if your car was damaged in a hit-and-run accident.
• Your health insurance policy and your auto insurance policy may have overlapping coverages. If you are injured in an accident the two insurance companies may argue over who has to pay the bill. Check your policy to see what medical coverage is provided.

Understanding the fine print of an auto insurance policy can be a daunting task. If you don't understand something or think your insurance company has not given you a straight answer, talk to an attorney who is experienced in handling auto accidents. They can help you understand what is covered and what isn't to make sure that you are protected.

Tip #1: Shopping for Auto Insurance

You can change auto insurance companies at any time. If you decide to change companies and you've already pre-paid for the period, the insurance company has to refund you the pro-rated amount upon your cancellation. Sometimes it might make sense to switch insurance during your current policy, especially if you've gotten married, turned 25 or had a traffic violation cleared off your record during the current period of coverage.

If you seek advice directly from an insurance agent (rather than an online shopping comparison website), keep in mind that insurance agents often work on commission and may simply try to get you to sign with them rather than making sure that the coverage is the best coverage for you. And what is "best" for one driver may not be "best" for another driver. Be sure to carry enough insurance coverage to protect your home and your assets in the event of a serious accident.

• Your age. Drivers under age 25, especially males, are in a higher-risk group so insurance companies typically charge them more for car insurance. After three years of driving experience, with no motor vehicle accidents, you may be quoted a lower rate. Getting married may also reduce your rate, as married people are seen to be more responsible and less risky from the insurance industry's perspective. Completing special driving courses - such as defensive driving - may also help to reduce your rate.
• Your credit. When shopping for auto insurance policies, you're typically asked for your Social Security number so that the insurance company can run a credit report on you. If you have good credit, you are statistically less likely to be involved in an accident, so companies usually offer lower premium rates to drivers with good credit.
• Your vehicle. Insurers rate your car based on several factors, including: safety ratings, theft data and the value of the vehicle. If the car is older or has high safety ratings, it is usually determined to be less of a risk to the company and therefore they will offer you lower premiums. On the other hand, newer cars and those that are often stolen by thieves typically have higher premiums because there is a greater risk that the insurance company may have to replace it.
• How you pay. Each company has their own discounts based on how you pay and there are a variety of ways to pay for car insurance: in a lump sum upfront, going paperless and paying online, or pay in monthly installments via automatic deductions. Ask companies what discounts they provide for payment.

Does the rate you were quoted for auto insurance seem too good to be true? Contact the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) to check whether the insurance company is licensed in your state. If the coverage seems too good to be true at the price you've been quoted, there is a chance that it might be. You can report any suspected fraud or complaints to the NCDOI as well.

If you do decide to switch insurers make sure you officially cancel your policy. If you switch insurers during your current period, be sure to notify the old insurer in writing that you are cancelling and include a termination date. This will ensure that the policy is fully cancelled and that you're not reported to credit bureaus for nonpayment.

While not everyone's auto insurance policy is exactly the same, most have the same six basic types of coverage - coverages that cover everything from vandalism and property damage to injuries caused by car accidents and uninsured drivers.

Coverage for Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

In the event of an accident, injuries caused by drivers listed on the policy (typically you, your spouse and older children) to anyone else are covered under bodily injury liability. Bodily injury liability also covers injuries to anyone listed on your insurance policy when you are driving someone else's car with their permission.

Treatment for injuries to the drivers listed on the policy and passengers in your car are covered by personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP usually covers medical bills, funeral expenses and lost wages. This coverage is not required by North Carolina law.

Coverage for Accidents with Uninsured or Uninsured Motorists

Under uninsured motorist coverage, you may be reimbursed for injuries and damages to your car if you are hit by a hit-and-run driver or by someone who is not insured. Under underinsured motorist coverage, if an at-fault driver does not carry adequate insurance coverage to pay for all of your injuries or loss, then your own insurance policy may protect you. Underinsured motorist coverage also can cover injuries if you are hit as a pedestrian.

These coverages are also not required in North Carolina, but often recommended.

Next week, Part II of this blog will explain what types of auto insurance cover vehicle and property damages.

Sources: INSIDE INSURANCE: Your basic auto policy explained; Liability Insurance Requirements

Most parents might expect a day spent sledding to lead to the occasional fever or runny nose, but many are unaware that it could also increase their children's risk of sustaining a serious injury. According to a study published recently in the journal Pediatrics, sledding is a dangerous activity and parents should take some basic safety precautions to help their children stay safe.

Sledding Safety Tips

While no one expects children to stop sledding, the more parents know about the risks of the activity, the safer everyone will be. And until public snow parks and ski areas require sledders to wear helmets, parents should encourage their children to follow a few basic rules to stay safe:

• Choose a sledding area that is free of obstacles. Collisions with trees, poles and benches were the most common cause of sledding injuries to children.
• Avoid streets and highways. Although the incidence of injuries sustained by sledders in streets is low, the possibility of catastrophic injury is high.
• Use common sense. Do not allow cars, ATVs, snowmobiles or any other vehicle to tow a child on a sled.

No matter what precautions parents take, accidents do happen. If your child is hurt in sledding or tubing accidents as the result of inadequately maintained parks or negligent supervision at tubing hills and ski resorts, contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney.

Source: Sledding can send kids slip-sliding into injury, study says

With organized sports come recognized risks. And, unfortunately, for kids involved in sports it means that one in 10 receive medical attention for sports-related injuries, according to advocacy group Safe Kids USA.

Orthopedic surgeon, John Hurley, noted that the trend of specializing in specific sports at a young age is unhealthy. When children play the same sport for 12 months straight overuse injuries are more likely to occur. A growing number of injuries are caused by muscle overuse, including fractures and torn ligaments. "The muscle just fatigues out," said Dr. Hurley.

To help prevent your child from sustaining overuse and other sports-related injuries, Safe Kids USA recommends taking the following steps:

• Get a pre-sports physical. Even if not required for the sport, having an extensive medical history workup done allows you to establish a baseline of where your child is at and to know if there are any immediate health concerns.
• Create realistic and healthy goals. Do not expect perfection and do not let your child strive for it. Playing in sports should be fun, allow them to build relationships and learn about sportsmanship.
• Cross-train. Have your child mix up the sports he plays in order to help prevent muscle overuse from the repetition of the same sport. Once your child is 10 or 11 you can even encourage them to use light weights for strength training.
• Be involved in your children's sports. Make sure they have healthy practices (with water breaks and snacks when needed) and that the coach or someone involved with the team are first aid certified.
• Provide proper equipment. Making sure that helmets and shin guards fit properly and are well-maintained can help prevent injury.
• Keep an eye on your athlete's symptoms and mood. Some soreness is normal, but not long term so watch your child carefully.

If your child does sustain a sports-related injury, make sure he or she receives appropriate medical attention. If you suspect the injury might have been a result of the school's or organization's improper maintaining of equipment or the coach's negligence, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Source: 1 in 10 Child Athletes Injured, Experts Say

According to the study, workers' compensation accounts for approximately 12 percent of the total payments for orthopaedic care in the United States. It is the third largest payer for orthopaedic services after Medicare and Medicaid.

Charles S. Day, M.D., and his colleagues analyzed data from the complete medical records of patients who visited an academic orthopaedic hand clinic in Massachusetts during the course of two years. They compared information on patient history, diagnostic testing, diagnosis, surgery and the wait-time before surgery for patients with workers' compensation insurance and patients with third-party coverage.

The research revealed that people with workers' compensation insurance had a higher number pre-surgery clinic visits than people with standard insurance. Specifically, 69 percent of patients with standard insurance who needed surgery underwent surgery after their first clinic visit, while only 45 percent of patients with workers' compensation insurance had surgery after their first visit. In addition, people with workers' compensation insurance were more likely to receive magnetic resonance imaging or electrodiagnostic testing.

Source: Workers' Compensation Hand Injuries Receive Different Care, Effects of Workers' Compensation on the Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Patients with Hand and Wrist Disorders

Half of kids sustaining eye injuries as a result of dog attacks required surgery, according to a recent presentation at the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology conference. Dr. Henry Chen, a researcher at the University of Colorado in Denver, stated that 18 percent of kids undergoing eye surgeries also had to return for additional procedures.

Dr. Chen studied 537 pediatric patients treated for facial dog bite injuries at The Children's Hospital in Denver from 2003 to 2008. Of those with facial injuries, 14 percent sustained injuries to their eyes. "Eyelids were damaged in all the children with eye injuries," Chen reported.

The study also uncovered that children with eye injuries were:

• More likely to have complications - including scarring and tear duct problems.
• Significantly younger than those who only sustained injuries to the other parts of their face, at a mean age of 3.9 years old.
• Often more severely injured than other children attacked by dogs. In addition to eye injury, these children often had a higher total number of lacerations on their face.
• Commonly attacked by Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, Rottweilers and dogs of mixed breeds.

Specialist Attention Early On Could Help Prevent Further Complications

As reported by ABC News, Dr. Chen emphasized that the important thing for doctors to learn from this study is that eye injuries are a risk in children attacked by a dog, and require special attention. "If there's any concern about lacerations around the eye, it would be prudent to call an ophthalmology consultation to evaluate and make sure there aren't these other associated injuries," he said. Immediate attention from a specialist could help prevent need for additional revision surgery.

Source: When Dogs Attack Kids, Eyes Are Often the Target

The CPSC discovered that four infant strangulation deaths between 2003 and 2005 were linked to two lines of Graco strollers: the Quattro Tour and the Metro Lite. The particular models being recalled were made prior to November 2006 for the Quattro Tour line and before July 2007 for the Metro Lite line.

On average, only two infants a year die in stroller-related accidents, which are usually not related to product defects. The CPSC is warning parents about these particular strollers because unharnessed infants can slide through the opening between the stroller tray and the bottom of the seat, where they are trapped and left gasping for air. If left unattended, the consequences can be tragic.

Stroller design and manufacturing standards changed in 2008, so strollers made after that do not contain the product defect. The industry change increased the size of the openings between the tray and bottom of the seat in order to decrease the risk of infants being trapped and strangled. The change was made, in part, because of known infant deaths in 2003.

In addition to the four deaths, there were at least five other reported incidents where infants were trapped in these strollers, according to the CPSC. The agency cautions against leaving sleeping babies unattended in strollers.

According to the CPSC it is still safe to use the car seat that is a part of the models, but it is not advisable to continuing using the stroller itself until you get a repair kit from Graco. To obtain a repair kit, visit Graco's recall website at www.gracobaby.com/SafetyAndRecall or call (877) 828-4046.

This isn't the first recall on Graco strollers. Earlier in 2010, Graco recalled 1.5 million strollers after discovering that certain strollers were amputating small fingers.

Source: Graco recalls 2 million strollers after 4 infants strangle