Most people prefer to work for a living, even when they have earned Social Security benefits. Work is a big part of life. It contributes greatly to our sense of identity. It creates a community. It can be meaningful and life-sustaining. People with disabilities don’t...
Rockford Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law Blog
OSHA: Waukegan roofing company repeatedly ignored fall safety rules
Waukegan roofing contractor ECS Roofing Professionals already had a history of violating federal workplace safety standards and ignoring the citations they received, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Now, the agency has proposed...
Is work-related asthma covered by workers’ compensation?
Generally, yes. If you have developed asthma for the first time due to a workplace exposure – or if you already had asthma but an exposure has aggravated it – you are generally entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, it can be somewhat challenging to...
Technology must be a part of safe patient handling in healthcare
Healthcare workers suffer from musculoskeletal injuries at much higher rates than people in other professions. In 2017, nursing assistants, for example, experienced an incidence rate of 166.3 per 10,000 workers, which is over five times the average for all workers....
What benefits are available for disabled kids when they turn 18?
If you’re raising a child with a disability that will keep them from working, you may be wondering whether there are benefits available for your child once they turn 18. There are several federal and state programs available, depending on your situation. Supplemental...
7 common hazards on communication towers
Over the last few decades, work on communication towers has exploded. Before the 1980s, there was only a small, specialized industry of workers who erected, serviced and maintained broadcast and communication towers. Now, with a cellphone in every pocket,...
OSHA cites Crest Hill pizza company for fatality, history of violations
When a company runs heavy machinery, lockout/tagout procedures are crucial. They ensure that employees are not surprised by a sudden startup of a machine they thought was shut down. This is especially important during cleaning and maintenance when physical safeguards...
How long do I have to wait for my Social Security Disability benefits?
That’s a tough question. There is a legally mandated waiting period of five months in most cases, starting with the date you became disabled, before you can receive any benefits. However, this five-month period may not directly come into play in your case because the...
Illinois workers’ compensation claims for work-related hearing losses
Many Illinois jobs involve exposure to noise levels that can have a negative effect on your hearing. If you work in a loud environment and your hearing has diminished over time, there is a good chance that your hearing loss is work-related. As Harvard Health...
Paying employer’s workers’ comp premiums did not immunize nonemployer
On Friday, Jan. 21, the Illinois Supreme Court defined a class of third parties that injured workers may sue for injury or illness sustained at work. Normally, workers’ compensation is the exclusive financial remedy for a work-related injury, preventing an injured...
