"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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Federal and state workplace safety laws are meant to ensure that every workplace is reasonably safe. Nevertheless, many workers face unreasonable hazards in their workplaces, and many are injured and even killed every year in Illinois. One man, 48, was inspecting a...
In part 1 of this post, we described how an attorney can help an applicant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with their claim. Most people without legal training understandably find challenging the intricate rules,...
