A recent study into Illinois workers’ compensation awards found that white non-Hispanic construction workers tended to receive more benefits than Hispanic or black construction workers. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health who compared state workers’ compensation data and public health records from 2000 to>> Read More

Thousands of women in Chicago and across the country are filing product liability lawsuits after being harmed by surgical mesh implants. Mesh implants are used to treat a condition known as organ prolapse, which occurs when weakened tissues allow muscles to slip in a woman’s pelvis. For years, surgeons used surgical mesh to replace these>> Read More

Requiring workers to wear fall arrest equipment and devices Adequate perimeter protection Secure and covered floor openings Safe ladder and scaffold use The other leading causes of Illinois construction accidents were as follows: Exposure to harmful substances or environments Contact with objects and equipment Transportation accidents>> Read More

A 21-month-old Oregon child was killed recently when he fell into a washing machine and drowned. The tragic accident has inspired the family to help educate other parents about the dangers of washing machines. Laundry rooms often contain a number of hazards that threaten the health and safety of children. Parents need to understand the>> Read More

In our last post we discussed product recalls linked to salmonella and listeria contamination. Although these are the most common types of food recall causes, other forms of bacteria can also result in tainted consumer products and product liability litigation. One company is recalling salted fish which was found to be uneviscerated. In the U.S.,>> Read More

Unsafe working conditions at Beardstown pork processing facility have led to $114,000 in proposed fines against Cargill Meat Solutions. OSHA inspectors launched an investigation of the facility after receiving a complaint regarding workplace safety violations. OSHA officials say that lockout and tagout procedures were improperly documented before workers began to perform maintenance and servicing on>> Read More

June is Fireworks Safety Month. Fireworks can be a fun way to enhance a celebration, particularly during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, but fireworks can cause severe burns and fatal injuries if not used correctly or safely. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is one of the organizations that wants people to be safe during>> Read More

In our last post we discussed serious medical malpractice incidents called “never events.” A Never Event is a medical mistake so negligent or reckless that it should never occur. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the term “never event” was first used in 2001 by Ken Kizer, MD. At the time,>> Read More

A man died early Friday morning in a single car accident on Identa Road near Yorkville. CBS Chicago reports that this is the fourth recent fatal car accident in Kendall County on Route 126. The 24-year-old Oswego man who died in Friday failed to negotiate a curve, overcorrected his vehicle, and then drove off of>> Read More

A Chicago manufacturer was recently cited by OSHA officials for several serious workplace safety violations. Federal authorities say that Phoenix Electrical Manufacturing Co. was given $51,590 in proposed fines for exposing its workers to amputation injuries at a Chicago manufacturing facility. “Phoenix Electrical Manufacturing has a responsibility to provide proper machine guarding to prevent workers>> Read More

Workers’ compensation hearings are supposed to be held in public and before impartial arbitrators. One former Illinois workers’ comp arbitrator recently had her law license suspended for a variety of alleged misbehaviors including inappropriate communication regarding workers’ comp lawyers who appeared before her and rescheduling a controversial workers’ compensation case to keep reporters from attending.>> Read More

For many teens, a first job means independence and a significant step towards adulthood. Few ever consider the possibility that they might be injured on the job or even lose their lives because their workplace is unsafe. Still, studies show that teens are injured at a higher rate than older workers. According to the National>> Read More