Incidents Affect More than 165,000 Workers
In recently published statistics, the Illinois Department of Health noted that 165,500 workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in the latest reporting year. More than 83,300 of these incidents were serious enough to prevent employees from being able to work for a period of time. The largest number of injuries occurred in the transportation, trade and utilities industries, followed by the education, health services, and manufacturing industry.
On average, workers needed 11 days to recover before returning to work. Sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations, and bruises were the most frequent injuries, and workers suffered problems with their back and fingers most often. The Department of Health noted that flooring surfaces and work-required motions and actions caused most of the problems. Employees voiced concerns about overexertion and issues with equipment and objects. By canvassing employers in state and local government as well as private employers, the department found that most injuries happened between 8 a.m. and noon.
Workplace injuries and illnesses can have a big effect on an employee and his or her family. Employers are responsible for reporting injuries and extending workers’ compensation benefits to their workers, including paying for an employee’s medical bills, lost wages, and for more extensive injuries and vocational rehabilitation expenses.
The U.S. Department of Labor publishes a list of monthly incidents in every state, including Illinois, which put workers’ well-being in peril. An excavating and utility company in Oregon, Ill. had four violations for failing to protect employees who were involved in trench operations and at risk of being caved in. Jewel Food Stores had 13 safety violations in Franklin Park for exposing workers to hazardous levels of ammonia in their refrigeration systems; the store had not created or enforced operating procedures to safely handle the substance. And in Chicago, Home Depot failed to remove defective safety equipment intended to protect employees from falling. This store had already been cited once before for this violation. It was also fined for not maintaining the capacity plates on powered industrial vehicles, which could cause a serious injury to workers.
Employers are responsible for maintaining safe workplaces for their employees and conducting safety training. When a workplace accident occurs, an employer cannot retaliate against an employee and must provide medical and financial support as outlined in the Illinois workers’ compensation laws. When an employer or its insurance company fails to provide workers with these minimum benefits, an employee can take legal action.
The Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer Robert I. Briskman, Esq. has decades of experience in these types of cases and works tirelessly to get his clients the fair compensation they are due. The law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg excels in working with the employer’s insurance company and third parties to recover your medical bills, lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation and other costs. Their team of Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys understands just how devastating a workplace accident can be and offer free consultations to discuss your case.
To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654
Robert Briskman is a Chicago workers compensation attorney and Chicago workers compensation lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
