All Topics

• Millions Lost Due To Workplace Injuries

  James B. Biggs | March 13, 2006 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  Workplace injuries result in the loss of millions of dollars to Kansans and their employers, both from medical costs and from work absenteeism.Most businesses have workplace safety rules in place, even those businesses that don't seem like they are at high risk for injuries, such as offices.Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, being in the insurance business, is particularly aware of how much...

• Medtronic: Major Recall of Marquis ICD Models

  Matthew Bergmann | March 11, 2006 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  On February 11, 2005, Medtronic, Inc., the nation's leading manufacturer of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), issued a warning to physicians regarding a defect in approximately 80,000 Marquis ICD models. ICDs are designed to detect heartbeat irregularities and restore normal rhythm by sending an electrical pulse to the heart.Medtronic, Inc. revealed that a battery shortening...

• New Workers Compensation Rule on Drugs and Alchohol

  James B. Biggs | March 09, 2006 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill aimed to keep businesses from paying workers' compensation benefits to employees for drug or alcohol-related accidents.The change was spearheaded by business groups looking and should clear up what rules apply when an employer suspects alcohol or drug played a part in a worker's injury.Current Kansas law states that an employer doesn't have to...

• Vioxx Recalled

  Matthew Bergmann | March 07, 2006 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  Vioxx, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication, was prescribed for just five years before its manufacturer, Merck & Co., issued a worldwide voluntary recall. One of the most widely used drugs, Vioxx was prescribed to children and adults to manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, women to ease their menstrual cramps, and a variety of other people to alleviate swelling and acute...

• Topeka Requires Contractors To Have Insurance

  James B. Biggs | March 05, 2006 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  The city has minimized the risk to Topekans building or remodeling homes of being preyed upon by fly-by-night or fraudulent contractors.Since December 2004, the city of Topeka has required general contractors to have a minimum of $300,000 in liability insurance, a general contractor certification and workers compensation insurance, if they have employees."Before December of 2004, anyone walking...

• Ortho Evra® Patch -- FDA Warnings & Potential Dangers

  Matthew Bergmann | March 03, 2006 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  A new FDA warning alerts consumers about potential dangers of the Ortho Evra® patch. First approved by the FDA in November 2001, the Ortho Evra® birth control patch is a transdermal patch that is applied to the skin and worn for one week.The patch is replaced every week for 3 weeks, followed by one patch-free week. Currently, Ortho Evra® is the only birth control patch available and its...

• Hot Debate Over Work Comp Benefits In Kansas

  James B. Biggs | February 28, 2006 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  Sen. Karin Brownlee and Doug Allen sharply differed Wednesday on merits of proposed changes to the Kansas workers' compensation law.Brownlee, R-Olathe, supports a bill sponsored by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce that relieves companies of part of their financial obligation to employees hurt at work. Allen, of Spring Hill, takes a view that compensation for Kansans in job-related accidents --...

• Guidant Recalls Heart Defibrillators

  Matthew Bergmann | February 26, 2006 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  On June 21, 2005, Guidant Corp. announced the recall of approximately 50,000 heart defibrillators after device failures led to several patient injuries and two deaths. Guidant warned that certain models sometimes short circuit, preventing the cardio device from delivering an electric shock to the heart in order to restore a normal heartbeat. The short circuit may also cause accelerated battery...

• Kansas Workers Compensation "Going & Coming" Rule Analyzed

  James B. Biggs | February 23, 2006 11:18 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  Recently, the Kansas Court of Appeals addressed the premises exception to the going and coming rule and found in favor of the employer. In Rinke v. Bank of America, Docket No. 93, 868 (October 21, 2005), an employee was injured in the parking lot outside the building where she worked. The building and the parking lot were owned by a third party and the employer leased 727 of the 747 parking...

• Defective Product Recalls

  Staff Writer | December 08, 2005 10:59 AM | 0 CommentsTopeka, KS

  The Wichita Eagle provides a list of defective products that are being recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The list includes defective trestle ladders, electric tower fans, baby cribs, kids' activity trunks, sweatshirts, ATVs and other items.Continuously updated information on product recalls and safety news is available at www.cpsc.gov.