Union suing HCA over flu shots

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:39 am

The Service Employees International Union says the country’s biggest hospital operator can’t unilaterally require employees to wear surgical masks if they haven’t been immunized against the H1N1 virus.

Union officials say the policy should have been subject to negations since it affects employment terms, but HCA has declined to bargain. HCA officials said the policy is part of their comprehensive infection-control program to protect workers and patients, and they plan to continue moving forward with it.

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Tags: HCA Inc., hospital management, litigation, organized labor, public safety, Service Employees International Union, the flu  

Finding safety with Smith & Wesson

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on September 10, 2009 at 7:07 am

Frankin-based manufacturer Universal Safety Response, which was bought this summer by Smith & Wesson, posted record numbers in August.

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Tags: manufacturing, public safety, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., terrorism and counter-terrorism, Universal Safety Response Inc.  

Zingo returns

By Walker Duncan Posted on July 24, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Good news for the intoxicated this weekend and going forward: Designated driving service Zingo Nashville relaunched last night after a several-month hiatus.

The service, which provides customers a ride home in their own car, works like this: A customer calls for a ride. The driver then arrives on a collapsible scooter which can fit inside a large back pack. The bike is folded up and put in the trunk. The driver takes the customer home in their own car, unpacks the bike and tools away to his/her next fare.

The parent company, based in Atlanta, originally launched Zingo Nashville last year, but was forced to briefly close the operation down following insurance difficulties. According to the company’s leadership, those have all been resolved.

At the helm of the new local incarnation is President Nick Pagliari.

More info at the company’s Web site.

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Tags: alcohol, Nick Pagliari, public safety, Zingo Nashville  

We’ve got killer roads

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on July 1, 2009 at 10:18 pm

Tennessee’s deficient roads produce some of the highest crash costs in the country, says a transportation safety research shop. As for getting people to drive more safely…

“Although behavioral factors are involved in most crashes, avoiding those crashes through driver improvement requires reaching millions of individuals and getting them to sustain best safety practices,” continued Miller. “It is far more practical to make the roadway environment more forgiving and protective.”

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Tags: infrastructure, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, public safety, state rankings, transportation  

Council member wants stimulus cash for Hickory Hollow

By Geert De Lombaerde Posted on March 18, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Sam Coleman says the struggling mall needs the money for an improvement district focused on public safety.

Coleman likened the Hickory Hollow situation to last year’s approval by the Dean administration of a tax-increment financing deal to improve Bellevue Center Mall.

“… Due to the economy, business owners simply do not have money to pay for the additional assessment that would be required to implement the Central Business Improvement District,” his letter stated.

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Tags: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, CBL & Associates Inc., government stimulus, Hickory Hollow, Hickory Hollow Mall, Metro Council, Metro government, public safety, retail, retail real estate