Despite Flashing Lights, Trucks and Trains Still Manage to Collide
When you are impatient for a train to pass, it can seem like an eternity waiting for those cars to go by. Sometimes it even seems like the lights begin to flash and the barrier goes down without a train in view for miles. But you still respect the roadway crossing gate because you recognize…
Read MoreThree People Are Alive after a Truck Crash Because of Seat Belts
It can be easy to dismiss the utility of safety restraints; whether because of expediency or discomfort, many people either forget or choose not to wear seat belts. In North Dakota, all front seat occupants must wear safety belts, and anyone under the age of 18 must also use age-appropriate safety restraints. Though many North…
Read MoreMajor Spike in Opioid-Related Car Accidents in North Dakota
The opioid epidemic is crippling much of the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, whether it was a prescription painkiller or an illegal street drug like heroin. The death rate from prescription opioids has more than quadrupled since 1999.…
Read MoreDo Electronic Logging Devices Increase Traffic Safety for Commercial Trucks?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a final rule which mandates the use of electronic logging devices for commercial truck drivers and motor carriers to track compliance with hours-of-service regulations. By December 18, 2017, all drivers who are required to maintain record of Duty Status (RODS) logs, must use an ELD. However, the…
Read MoreComplications That Can Occur with Burn Injuries
Burn injuries can be devastating, and they can have lasting negative impacts for the patient both physically and psychologically. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that more than 500,000 people seek medical treatment for burns, 40,000 are hospitalized and about 4,000 people will die from burn injuries each year. People sustain burn injuries in…
Read MoreIntoxicated Truck Driver Kills Passenger Near Walhalla
Last week, a 31-year old drunk driver killed a 33-year old passenger in his truck while driving intoxicated. The fatal crash involved only one car, a pickup truck that was overturned in a ditch near Walhalla. The drunk driver was taken to the hospital for injuries, while the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.…
Read MoreLouisiana Oil Rig Explosion Reminds Bakken Field Workers of Industry Safety Concerns
An oil rig on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana exploded in mid-October, which resulted in at least six burn injuries and one missing person. Oil rig workers were being rescued with debilitating burn injuries from the fire that started on the rig due to chemicals, officials said. Many were transported to hospitals, and one worker remains…
Read MoreWomen in North Dakota Oil Industry Face Unique Employment Challenges
A recent article in Glamour magazine detailed the trials and tribulations of being a female that works in the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. While living in the boom town of Williston, the author learned the hard life lessons of working in the male-dominated industry and city. She also faced harassment and discrimination…
Read MoreCommercial Truck Spills 110 Barrels of Oil and Gas Byproduct in Williston
Earlier this month, a commercial truck operated by Wind River Oil Services was in an accident that resulted in a largescale spill of produced water. 110 barrels of this oil and gas byproduct were splattered onto State Highway 2, causing traffic to stop and releasing potentially dangerous materials into the atmosphere. Drainage and wetlands were…
Read MoreTruck Safety for Drivers Sharing the Road
Driving right next to a commercial truck can be fatal in some circumstances, as many victims have unwittingly learned. In 2015 alone, 3,852 people lost their lives in fatal truck accidents. Due to the danger associated with traveling next to commercial trucks, commercial truck drivers refer to this area as the “kill zone.” Riding alongside…
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