Alabama Injury Lawyers Blog

Should we be concerned with current gas containers?
by Gregory S, Cusimano

Howard Dawn poured gasoline into the tank of his lawn mower, placed the cap on the gas container spout and placed it in the middle of a nearby outdoor table in his yard. 

Jimmy, his 4 year old son, playing in the backyard, somehow picked up the gas container, the cap came off and Jimmy dragged the container into the open garage. When Howard saw Jimmy and the gas container lying on the floor in a puddle of gasoline, he ran and grabbed Jimmy. 

As he did the gasoline vapors caught on fire and the gas container exploded, engulfing them in flames, severely burning Jimmy and Howard. How could that be? What could have ignited the gasoline? Why would the plastic container explode?

It's spring, we all love being outside, working in the yard, smelling fresh cut grass enjoying Alabama's new growth of azaleas. We can be close to tragedy without ever knowing it. If you have a weed eater, lawn mower or gasoline blower, you are likely to have a cheap red plastic gasoline container. Now we know that something we think is simple and cheap would not explode like dynamite engulfing us or our children in flames. Right? Wrong! Children and family members have been devastatingly burned by these yard bombs. Fumes can ignite from hidden sources and the fire re-enters the containers which explode. We never would have guessed how easily the fumes can ignite. A pilot light, light switch, an open flame or even static electricity can start the fire.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just last year finally required plastic gas cans or containers to have safety caps which are resistant to being open easily by children. Although overdue, it was a good step.

Continue reading "Alabama Consumers Beware of Exploding Plastic Gas Containers" »

Fumes Ignite Re-Enter Gas Container and Explode!

Do you have a plastic gas container you use? I'll bet it doesn't have a fire safety shield. For well over 100 years gas cans for gas storage were known to be equipped with safety shields - a simple mesh filter that keeps ignited fumes from going back into the container and exploding injuring and killing people. Once big box stores started buying and selling things for the cheapest prices possible makers of gas containers started using plastics and chose to sell the containers without the simple safety shield.

Since then many have been injured and killed by fires and explosions that could have been prevented if a simple safety shield costing pennies had been included. Fumes Ignite Re-Enter Gas Container and Explode!

Do you have a plastic gas container you use? I'll bet it doesn't have a fire safety shield. For well over 100 years gas cans for gas storage were known to be equipped with safety shields - a simple mesh filter that keeps ignited fumes from going back into the container and exploding injuring and killing people. Once big box stores started buying and selling things for the cheapest prices possible makers of gas containers started using plastics and chose to sell the containers without the simple safety shield.

Since then many have been injured and killed by fires and explosions that could have been prevented if a simple safety shield costing pennies had been included.

Some people throughout the United States have received excess radiation as a result of medical imaging. Many of the scanners were GE machines. A case has been filed by our firm and others to create a medical monitoring fund to provide annual or semi-annual testing. The testing will (1) provide earlier detection of cancerous tumors resulting from the radiation; and (2) provide early detection to allow quick and decisive treatment.

GE has asked the Court to dismiss the case and is claiming that the patients' hair loss and subcellular damage are not a "present injury."

Hearing will be held in Washington D.C. this week concerning the safety and safeguards that can or should be implemented. Patients are hopeful that the hearings scheduled to be held tomorrow by the Committee on Energy and Commerce (Subcommittee on Health) will ask substantive questions regarding the safeguards that GE, and other CT manufacturers, have failed to include in their machines which would have ensured patient safety and eliminated this unnecessary risk. We further hope that the Committee will uncover why it has taken the overexposure of hundreds of patients to garner the industry's attention to this serious public health matter.

It has now been discovered that patients in Missouri have suffered exposure as well as patients in Alabama and California. The patients exposed to dangerous levels of radiation in Springfield, Missouri are appears to be another example of the industry's disregard for patient safety.

The law firms representing patients are Cusimano, Keener, Roberts, Knowles & Raley, LLC, Gadsden, Alabama, Watson, McKinney & Artrip, LLP, Huntsville Al, and Owen, Patterson & Owen in CA. Those wishing further information about the law suit may contact lawyers in those firms.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has expressed concern about cadmium in cheap metal jewelry, and has suggested that such jewelry and toys be taken away from children because of potential exposure to toxic metal.

In 2008, a federal ban was instituted on the use of lead in charms and jewelry. Many, however, have feared that some Chinese manufacturers simply began substituting cadmium, which is also toxic. The Associated Press reported high cadmium levels in bracelet charms and similar items in Wal-Mart and Claire?s stores, resulting in these products being withdrawn at those stores.

Cadmium can cause cancer and kidney problems. Typically, cadmium poisoning is associated with heavy industry workers, such as those involved in smelting ore or recycling batteries. Experts have not previously seen significant cadmium issues associated with children?s health issues. The president of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Inez Tenebaum, has suggested that children not be permitted to use cheap metal jewelry.

The problem has drawn the attention of Congress, where hearings are being requested, and legislation addressing the cadmium issue in jewelry and toys is being proposed.

Michael L. Roberts