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What is a “Never Event” at a hospital?

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, Dr. Kizer was the head of the National Quality Forum which used the term "Never Events" to refer to shocking medical negligence. The term has...

Route 126 Car Accident Kills Oswego Man Yorkville Accidents

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 the other side of the road. The car then became airborne when he crashed into a culvert and rolled at least once. Four aspects of...

Phoenix Electrical Manufacturing Co. Sited By OSHA

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 from amputations and other serious injuries when operating machinery in its facility," said Diane Turek, OSHA's area director for its Chicago North Office in Des...

IL Arbitrator For Workers Comp Accused Of Misconduct

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. An Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission hearing panel determined that Jennifer Carril's professional misconduct warranted a two year suspension of her law license. The...

Teenage Workers & Workplace Injuries

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 Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in the U.S. a teen is injured on the job every once every nine minutes. The statistics make...

$8.8 MILLION Settlement For Bus Accident Victim

An $8,800,000.00 settlement was reached in a traumatic brain injury case that occurred on april 21, 2009. The lawyers representing the injured party, Leonardo Elias, are Lawrence Ruder and Louis Cairo of Chicago's largest injury law firm, GWC. The defendant was represented by Kathleen McDonough, managing partner at Degal, McCambridge's office and attorney Brian Eldridge. Managing partner and personal injury lawyer, Louis Cairo, and partner, Lawrence Ruder, resolved the lawsuit against alltown bus company and their insurance carriers, scottsdale, lexington...

OSHA Fines Global Experience Specialists

A trade show contractor faces $91,000 in OSHA fines after a forklift accident at the McCormick Place Convention Center last fall. Federal officials say that one of the convention center's employees was severely injured when an employee of Global Experience Specialists drove over his foot with a forklift. The company allegedly failed to train or check the certification of the forklift operator after the incident, which provides the basis for the proposed fines against the Global Experience Specialists. "Employers, such...

OSHA Recommends Fining Chicago Masonry Company

OSHA officials are recommending $196,000 in fines against a Chicago-based masonry company that allowed its workers to be exposed to excessive amounts of lead during sandblasting operations. The fines follow an inspection of American Masonry Inc.'s sandblasting work at a commercial building that houses art studios. "When employers such as American Masonry knowingly ignore health requirements, they are unduly placing their workers at risk for illnesses, and that is unacceptable," said Nick Walters, OSHA's regional administrator in Chicago. "Lead exposure...

Workers Accused & Fired By Company After Suffering Injuries

Construction safety rules are intended to protect workers from unnecessary and avoidable risks. Unfortunately, they are often ignored in the field by those responsible for planning and scheduling work until the tragic moment when someone gets seriously hurt. Adding to the tragedy, these construction safety rules are then used to blame the worker for performing the dangerous work which he was exposed to because of bad decisions by others. GWC recently obtained a record settlement for an apprentice millwright who lost...