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The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act requires employers to provide medical care to cure the effects of a workplace injury. Sometimes, those effects may not be apparent in the emergency room, or in the weeks to come.
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?
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.
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.
Bike messengers in Chicago face high risks of injuries due to car accidents, negligent drivers, and road rage. Riding at high speeds, bike messengers are vulnerable to a variety of sudden, unexpected on-the-job injuries.
Workers in certain age groups, racial/ethnic groups and occupations have a higher risk of fatal workplace injuries. In 2015, there were more than 4,800 workplace fatalities, representing the highest number of on-the-job deaths since 2008.
Working in the healthcare industry can be surprisingly hazardous. In fact, a recent report referred to nursing as one of the most dangerous jobs in America. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the risk for serious injuries or illnesses that result in lost time from work is higher in the healthcare industry than it is in manufacturing and even construction.
Approximately 13,000 landscapers are injured on the job each year. Individuals working in horticulture and landscaping face a number of risks on the job including slips and falls, electrocution, amputation, hearing loss, and exposure to the elements. Nationwide, there are approximately 900,000 landscape workers.
