Slips Trips Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition

In five comprehensive parts (a total of 26 chapters) the authors provide an intricate, informative, and illuminating look at the dynamics of slip and fall injuries. The writing is relaxed and humorous which makes the menu of comprehensive data and facts easier to digest. Early on the reader appreciates the value of an expert witness in human factors, ergonomics, and safety research. What we may take for granted as an unavoidable accident is shown to be subject to such factors as poor construction, violation of industry standards, and cost-cutting measures despite and increased risk to the public. Part one (Chapters 1-10) supplies enough thought-provoking scientific principles to keep the nurse reader enthralled and the attorney student engaged. The text provides an in-depth look into the biological process of aging and the pathologic phenomena that affect balance, vision, perception and spatial relationships. Inarguably, healthcare professionals have a certain level of comfort with their ability to identify those persons at higher risk of falling but this text reveals that knowledge is only a fraction of what needs to be considered.The authors convincingly demonstrate that mathematical formulas provide and objective analysis of how angles, inclines, friction ration and traction demands silently combine to defeat or support safe passage on public walkways. The authors even bring a new and enlightening insight into the tireless efforts of gravity to challenge our coordination every second of the day. Part two (Chapters 11-13) takes a directed focus on the fall injury itself. Factors such as medications ingested, the human compensatory mechanisms and the injuries associated with specific body parts are just a few of the influences that combine with the principles of physics to provide an objective measure of the likely physical damage. Part three (Chapters 14-17) assimilates the information into the legal considerations. Using the essential elements of tort law in establishing negligence, the text puts the concepts of duty, breach of duty, proximate cause and damages into context for the reader. Issues unique to fall injuries such as notice, the potential for multiple defendants, and enhancement factors (such as self-service areas) as streightforwardly discussed along the various types of surface and material involvement (i.e. ladders, parking lots, showers, hardwood floors to name a few). This section concludes with a list of deposition samples to provide the reader with immediate reinforcement of the learning in the principles discussed. Part four (Chapters 18-26) provides industry standards, authoritative sources, industry definitions, and guidelines controlling public access to elevators and escalators, commercial business walkways, and surfaces. Appropriate coverage is given to handrails, stairs, curbs, garages, and lighting. Part five concludes the book with a Fall Prevention Manual that includes practical checklists and considerations of safety factors. This section is particularly helpful in evaluating the likely scenario, which led to the fall injury. The checklists review the necessary environmental considerations and provide an invaluable reference list for the legal professional in understanding and assimilating the components of case development. This section alone would be worth purchasing for the obvious advantage it provides in guiding discovery requests. The appendices that follow the manual are brief but informative sections, which highlight key issues such as investigation, measurement, human perception, biomechanical factors and common fall elements. It cannot be overstated that for the attorney of LNC working in premises liability, this book is the essential reference and core resource worth the purchase.