Twenty-eight people from the Unit- ed States and six other countries were arrested last October for operat- ing websites designed to traffic stolen and forged credit cards and other identification documents in a sting operation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Europol, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and oth- ers. Authorities estimate that the sus- pects may have bought or sold some 1.7 million stolen credit card num- bers and caused more than $4.3 mil- lion in losses. The investigation was initiated after credit card issuer Mas- terCard International Inc. alerted authorities to more than 100 web- sites devoted to credit card and iden- tification document trafficking. jury recently awarded Immersion Acorn all technology devel- opment company, $82 million in its patent infringement lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment. The jury held that Sony's DualShock con- troller for the PlayStation video game console violated two patents held by Immersion. In 2003, Microsoft, maker of the Xbox video game con- sole, paid $26 million to Immersion to settle a similar dispute. When New York's Metro North Commuter Railroad hired a pri- vate investigator to videotape an employee that had filed a claim against them for a back injury suf- fered at work, they hoped that the tape would show a claimant with no signs of injury. But the strategy back- fired when the footage depicted Robin Hairston making trips to her doctor's office in obvious pain and requiring assistance to get around. Although Metro-North decided not to show the tape, the plaintiff's attorney was able to use it to his client's advantage after learning about it in discovery. Hairston was subsequently awarded $121,000 for her injuries. 8 RISK MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2005 Safe Shopping In busy retail outlets, particularly large warehouse superstores, customers are exposed to a variety of dangers. Acci- dents caused by falling merchandise, moving forklifts or the lifting of heavy boxes can cause serious injury, leading to costly insurance claims. According to the American Society of Safety Engi- neers (ASSE), in order to protect cus- tomers and employees alike, many retailers have enacted safety programs in response to these risks. By following the guidelines of these programs, retail- ers can minimize the risk of injury and promote a safer shopping environment in their stores. One recommendation suggested by various programs is that stores should develop height policies for stacked items. Depending on the type of mer- chandise and the shelving configura- tion, stock levels should never exceed a certain predetermined height in order to prevent unstable stacks from top- pling over onto passing customers or personnel. Employees also need to be aware that certain items should not be stacked at all. For example, slick pack- aging found on shrink-wrapped or glossy boxes, poses a greater risk than simple cardboard because there is less friction between the surfaces, making them more slippery and, therefore, less stable when stacked. It is important to remember that since an object gains momentum when it falls, the resulting danger from a falling box is greater than the size of the box would suggest. According to experts, a 10-pound object falling 10 feet can have a force of impact of 1,200 pounds-more than enough to serious- ly injure someone who might be in the object's path. Employees should walk through the store several times a day to make sure stacks of merchandise are still stable and that nothing is jutting out into an aisle where it can create a hazard. Forklift safety is also important. The stocking and retrieval activities per- formed by forklifts can cause items to fall so customers should always be kept at a safe distance when a forklift is being used. Employees acting as spot- ters can be used as an extra set of eyes to make sure that a forklift's path is clear and that no one is in danger of being hit by a moving forklift or by a falling item in the work area. Generally, it is recommended that heavy stock work be performed when the store is closed or when there is minimal customer traffic. Possible back injury is another con- cern for customers. This can be caused if a customer does not properly lift a heavy box or item, especially if it is Employees should walk through the store several times a day to make sure stacks of merchandise are still stable and that nothing is jutting out into an aisle where it can create a hazard. handed to them by an employee from a high shelf and they have to lower it a long distance before it is level or on the ground. An awkward grip could cause a back injury and employees should be educated about proper lift- ing techniques and not allow cus- tomers to perform any activities that could cause them harm. The ASSE also stresses that manage- ment take an active role in designing an effective retail safety program by increasing awareness of the issue, implementing ongoing employee train- ing and education, and coordinating all departments from purchasing to receiving to customer service to work together to create a safe shopping envi- ronment for both customers and employees. -Morgan O'Rourke