Last week, the French government requested that Apple stop selling the iPhone 12 model because of excessive radiation detected during recent tests. The Agence National des Fréquences [ANFR] stated that “…Apple must immediately take all measures to prevent the availability on the market of the phones concerned present in the supply chain. Regarding phones already sold, Apple must take corrective measures as soon as possible to make the phones concerned compliant. Otherwise, it will be up to Apple to recall them.”
Showing posts with label Apple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apple. Show all posts
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Electronic Gadget Dermatitis Maybe the Next Latex Allergy in the Workplace
The genesis of the next epidemic of a mass tort is often the workplace where occupational exposures frequently occur at an alarming rate for lack of adequate safety measures. Emerging research has associated an allergic reaction to metal in electronic gadgets such as cell phones, iPads (tablets) and computer laptops. These items have become an unavoidable staple of the workplace and maybe the cause of contact dermatitis and more serious and sometimes fatal systemic allergic reactions.
It has been a few of decades since US Surgeon General Everett Koop issued a warning that unless health and safety workers utilized latex gloves they would be exposed to and spread the HIV virus. The nightmare of latex allergy engulfed the workers compensation system and soon avoidance alone could not prevent total and permanent disability claims following a massive wave of litigation in courts of compensation and in the product liability arena. The residuals continue to this date.
The cycle again maybe repeating as multiple research sources are reporting allergic reactions to new technology. These conditions tend to begin as contact dermatitis issues and them bloom into life threatening systemic reactions. No wonder why Fidbit recalled its latest wearable tracking device so quickly and universally.
Allergic reactions to nickel in some gadgets have been noticed for a while. Now, a medical journal report suggests a possible link between rashes and exposure to nickel in Apple's iPads......Dermatologists have, for some time, examined a connection between the presence of nickel -- a common metal allergen -- in some gadgets and allergic reactions.
Click here to read the complete article.
It has been a few of decades since US Surgeon General Everett Koop issued a warning that unless health and safety workers utilized latex gloves they would be exposed to and spread the HIV virus. The nightmare of latex allergy engulfed the workers compensation system and soon avoidance alone could not prevent total and permanent disability claims following a massive wave of litigation in courts of compensation and in the product liability arena. The residuals continue to this date.
The cycle again maybe repeating as multiple research sources are reporting allergic reactions to new technology. These conditions tend to begin as contact dermatitis issues and them bloom into life threatening systemic reactions. No wonder why Fidbit recalled its latest wearable tracking device so quickly and universally.
Allergic reactions to nickel in some gadgets have been noticed for a while. Now, a medical journal report suggests a possible link between rashes and exposure to nickel in Apple's iPads......Dermatologists have, for some time, examined a connection between the presence of nickel -- a common metal allergen -- in some gadgets and allergic reactions.
Click here to read the complete article.
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Wage Theft -- Another Assault on Workers' Compensation
| As corporate American devises new methods to reduce wages it also assaults the injured workers' benefit safety net including workers' compensation insurance. It results in rate benefits to go down and premium bases to become inadequate to pay on gong claims. Today's post is shared from nytimes.com and is authored by it's Editorial Board. When labor advocates and law enforcement officials talk about wage theft, they are usually referring to situations in which low-wage service-sector employees are forced to work off the clock, paid sub minimum wages, cheated out of overtime pay or denied their tips. It is a huge and under policed problem. It is also, it turns out, not confined to low-wage workers. In the days ahead, a settlement is expected in the antitrust lawsuit pitting 64,613 software engineers against Google, Apple, Intel and Adobe. The engineers say they lost up to $3 billion in wages from 2005-9, when the companies colluded in a scheme not to solicit one another’s employees. The collusion, according to the engineers, kept their pay lower than it would have been had the companies actually competed for talent. The suit, brought after the Justice Department investigated the anti-recruiting scheme in 2010, has many riveting aspects, including emails and other documents that tarnish the reputation of Silicon Valley as competitive and of technology executives as a new breed of “don’t-be-evil” bosses, to cite Google’s informal motto. The case... [Click here to see the rest of this post]  Workers' Compensation: Would Higher Minimum Wage for ...Apr 17, 2014 Wages determine rates of workers' compensation. The lowest wage earners go unnoticed in the struggle to increase benefits. Today's post is shared from njspotlight.com . Advocates decry current $2.13 per hour as unfair, ... http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/ Payroll Data Shows a Lag in Wages, Not Just Hiring Feb 11, 2014 But the report also made plain what many Americans feel in their bones: Wages are stuck, and barely rose at all in 2013. They were up 1.9 percent last year, or a mere 0.4 percent after accounting for inflation. Not only was that ... http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/ McDonald's Accused of Stealing Wages From Already ... Mar 16, 2014 McDonald's Accused of Stealing Wages From Already Underpaid Workers. Wage are the basic factor upon which to calculate rates for workers' compensation purposes. Today's post was shared by Mother Jones and comes ... http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/ |
Friday, December 13, 2013
Death of Apple factory workers highlight safety, underage issues
The recent deaths of a 15-year-old and three other workers at an iPhone plant in Shanghai highlight the challenges that Apple Inc. and its suppliers face to maintain worker safety and keep underage people out of factories.
In September, 15-year-old Shi Zhaokun began work at Pegatron's Shanghai assembly plant using an identification card that said he was 20. A month later, he died of pneumonia. Labor groups said long working hours and crowded living conditions contributed to Shi's death. Taiwan-based Pegatron on Wednesday confirmed that four workers died of illnesses recently at the Shanghai factory, which employs about 100,000 people. Pegatron and Apple said their investigations indicated that the deaths weren't linked to work conditions. In response to Shi's death, Apple last month sent independent medical experts from the U.S. and China to the Pegatron factory to conduct an investigation, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said. "While they have found no evidence of any link to working conditions there, we realize that is of little comfort to the families who have lost their loved ones," she said. Apple declined to comment about employment of underage workers, although the company has long said it is diligent about enforcing age rules at its suppliers. It was unclear how Shi — who, his family said, was pronounced healthy at a Pegatron checkup in September — ended up dying of acute pneumonia a month later. |
Monday, October 14, 2013
Foxconn admits labour violation at China factory
Foxconn, the world's biggest contract electronics maker, has admitted student interns worked shifts at a factory in China that were in violation of its company policies.
It had admitted to hiring underage interns at the same unit last year. Foxconn said actions had been taken to bring the factory "into full compliance with our code and policies". "There have been a few instances where our policies pertaining to overtime and night shift work were not enforced," the company said in a statement. The manufacturing giant is owned by Taiwanese group Hon Hai Precision and employs about 800,000 workers around the globe. Foxconn, while not a household name in itself for many consumers, is used by most of the big technology giants around the world, including Apple, Sony, Microsoft, HP, and Nokia. It first came under scrutiny for its labour practices when 13 employees committed suicide at its Chinese plants in 2010. The incidents raised concerns over working conditions at its units in China and drew attention to growing labour strikes. For its part, Foxconn responded by raising wages, shortening working hours and employing counsellors on site. It also installed suicide nets to factory living-quarters at its Shenzhen factory. Also in 2010, Foxconn temporarily shut down a unit in India after 250 workers fell sick. And in May 2011, two people were killed after... |
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Apple Is Moving Distracted Driving Into High Gear
Transportation accidents account for a high proportion of work-related fatalities, and Apple's announcement with week of increasing the access of iCar-Technology into the automobile is raising serious concerns among safety lobbyists.
Workers' compensation insurance companies in co-ordination with the US Department of
Transportation (DOT) have made major efforts over the last few years to target distracted driving as a major safety issue to avoid serious accidents and ultimately save lives and reduce insurance costs. The DOT reports, "Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2011 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes."
Workers' compensation insurance companies in co-ordination with the US Department of
 |
| IOS in the Car Heavy Integration Announced at Apple Conference |
As of June 2013, 41 state, the District of Columbia, and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. Also, 11 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands, prohibit all drivers from using handheld phones while driving.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Investigations of Foxconn Claimed to be a PR Stunt
Image via WikipediaWorkers' Compensation systems are programs base benefits on wages converted to rates of payment and that is the basis for the payment by an employer for workers' compensation coverage. Honest employer reporting enforced by random retroactive insurance company audits guard against employer fraud.
The US laws for workers' compensation work as a mechanisim to encourage safer working conditions. Additionally, the exploitation of child labor triggers penalties against the employer. The penalties are both civil and criminal in nature.
FLA is currently conducting an investigation of labor conditions at Apple supplier Foxconn in China. Although the FLA report is only due in March, it has already been reported that the FLA has formed a positive opinion of conditions at Foxconn, without yet interviewing workers. This casts doubts on the independence of the investigation (FLA is directly funded by Apple) and the credibility of its final report. Contrary to FLA's standard methodology, the Foxconn investigation was not unannounced which has allowed the company to hide abuses by banning illegal overtime for 16-17 year olds during the period of the investigation.
Apple's initiative in joining FLA was appreciated, however, misusing the initiative as a PR stunt will reflect very badly on Apple's sustainability initiatives and statements. The open letter tells shareholders that in addition to proper auditing, Apple also needs to look into improving its purchasing practices by ensuring fair prices and well-planned lead times, allowing workers to work normal hours and earn a living wage.
The IMF, GoodElectronics and makeITfair are among a growing group of concerned trade unions and other civil society organisations calling upon Apple to improve its act and stamp out persistent violations of labour rights in its supply chain.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Hey Siri, Where Are the Words, Workers Compensation?
Click here to read: Apple Supplier Responsibility report 2012
"We were deeply saddened by events at two of our suppliers in 2011. An explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu factory tragically took the lives of four employees and injured 18 others. An explosion at the Ri-Teng (a subsidiary of Pegatron) factory in Shanghai injured 59.Immediately after each of these incidents, Apple reached out to the foremost experts in process safety and assembled teams to investigate the circumstances of each explosion. These teams made recommendations about how to prevent future accidents. While the causes of these two incidents—as well as many of the corrective actions taken afterward—were different, both explosions involved combustible dust. Many materials, including ones normally considered noncombustible, can burn rapidly when small particles are suspended in air in the right concentration and ignited. In both of the 2011 incidents, aluminum particles provided fuel for a blast."
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