All workplaces must be reasonably safe. That includes preventing ordinary hazards that may not garner our full attention. When OSHA finds that an employer hasn’t taken reasonable steps to keep employees safe, it can fine that employer. Unfortunately, some may see...
Rockford Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law Blog
Avoid this scam targeting Social Security recipients
What would you do if someone called and told you there was a problem with your Social Security account? You rely on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to get by. And if they said they were from the Social Security...
OSHA cites Illinois’ A. Lamp Concrete for repeat trench safety hazards
"In mere seconds, thousands of pounds of soil can trap a worker in a trench collapse and lead to serious and often fatal injuries.” That’s what’s at stake when construction companies fail to follow the federal safety regulations on preventing trench collapses and...
Can industrial robots improve workplace safety? What’s the cost?
Robots are becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, and that includes our workplaces – especially industrial workplaces. That might mean robots taking on the riskiest work, reducing the hazards to human workers. Automation could also mean exposing human...
Tragedy at the Mapleton Caterpillar foundry brings $145,027 fine
Foundries are among the most dangerous places anyone could work. The Mapleton, Illinois, foundry for Caterpillar of Irving, Texas, makes cast-iron engine components. Among the potentially deadly machines at the foundry were 11-foot-deep pots of molten iron that had...
How much can a Social Security Disability lawyer charge?
Did you know that the amount a lawyer can charge for a Social Security Disability claim is set by law? It is. Additionally, there is no attorney fee if your claim is ultimately denied. And, any attorney fee you do pay comes out of your past-due benefits. Under current...
2 notices from the SSA: rising benefits and self-selected gender
Social Security Disability benefits, along with retiree benefits, will be increasing by 8.7% in January 2023. That means that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will see larger benefit checks. The reason...
5 issues affecting the workers’ comp legal landscape this year
For the tenth year in a row, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has issued a report about recent bills, laws and regulations that could impact the workers’ compensation system. It’s a national report, and these issues are cropping up across the...
OSHA cites Chicago candy factory for repeat lockout/tagout violations
Machine safety is critical to our workforce. Virtually every job involves a machine of some sort, and many of them pose serious safety risks unless handled carefully. One of the most basic safety protocols around machines is to power them down completely before...
3 remote worker injuries people don’t talk about
Remote work has seen a dramatic rise in the past several years. Many employees find that their quality of life has greatly improved since working from home. But just because people are in the safety of their own homes doesn’t mean they’re safe from work-related...
