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Motor Vehicle Accidents 
Could an insurance company purchase your data from Facebook? Could an insurance company buy a map of every location that you’ve visited from Google?
America’s drug problem continues to invade the workforce and millions of people work alongside drug abusers every day, raising their risk for workplace injuries. Approximately 77 percent of Americans over the age of 18 who use illegal drugs are currently employed in at least a part-time capacity.
In Illinois, temporary transitional employment provisions enable injured employees to return to work at off-site locations through third-party vendors when they have been released with restrictions.
In Illinois, employers are required to assess their workplaces for hazards and provide their employees with the proper personal protective equipment to help to protect them from injuries. Employers are supposed to train their employees about the PPE, when it may be required, and how to use it. Employers may offer incentive programs to encourage their workers to use the equipment.
Thousands of workers were killed on the job in 2016, and while statistics, graphs and numerical reports all demonstrate the severity of work-related safety issues, these deaths were not just numbers. The workers had names.
Employees are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits that cover on-the-job injuries and illnesses, but independent contractors are not eligible for benefits. Some employers misclassify workers as independent contractors instead of as employees, however, to avoid paying for expensive workers’ compensation insurance premiums.
School teachers face a variety of unique workplace hazards that put them at risk for serious injuries and illnesses like stress-related mental disorders, serious disease, repetitive stress injuries and workplace violence. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, educational service is on the list for the most dangerous industries in America.
Chemical field tests for synthetic opioids put police officers and first responders at significant risk for serious illness, accidental overdose, and death, even when the proper safety gear is used. Police officers are particularly vulnerable to work-related injuries from fentanyl exposure on routine DWI stops where they often encounter unknown substances.
Some medications are taken for work injuries act to relieve injury symptoms and promote healing, but they can also cause harmful side effects on otherwise healthy parts of the body. Debilitating injuries, permanent damages, addiction, and death can result from the use of post-injury medication.
The U.S. Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has awarded health and safety grants to promote workplace safety. Grants will provide education and training on safety standards for young workers.