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The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission recently found that the husband of a deceased water meter reader was entitled to workers' compensation even though his late wife was working as a contractor and not a full-time employee. The Commission's decision was also upheld by two Illinois courts.

The Illinois Appellate Court recently ruled that an injured police officer is entitled to workers' compensation benefits even though he was injured at home before his shift started. The case, Bolingbrook Police Department vs. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, centered around a police officer who injured his back while getting his work bag out of the trunk of his car.

Are Hands-Free Devices Truly a Ticket to Safer Driving? Hands-free devices have long been hailed as a safer alternative to holding a cell phone while driving.  However, recent research into the subject seems to suggest that hands-free devices are no safer than just talking on the phone while operating a vehicle. In fact, they may actually contribute to more accidents because they allow drivers to be complacent about talking on the phone while driving.

Restaurants, whether full service or fast food, are jammed with heat-producing equipment and a range of potentially dangerous situations. Ovens, fryers, food warmers, stoves and coffee makers cause a high percentage of reported restaurant employee injuries. Cleavers, knives and other sharp objects are tools of the trade and can result in severe lacerations. Floors made slippery by spilled liquids, grease and water are frequent occurrences in busy restaurant kitchens or dining rooms. Exposure to cleaning chemicals and hot oils can result in severe eye and skin injuries.

It can happen anytime whether it's the heat of a summer's day or the freezing chill of snowy night. Emergencies have no timing, however, when the alarm bell goes off in the firehouse, the brave men and women of Chicago's storied firehouses clamber into their trucks to protect innocent lives and property from destruction. Even as they work to save lives and livelihoods, they often put their own in jeopardy and the health risks firefighters face are plentiful. Whether it's a fire on the 50th floor of the John Hancock Center, or a warehouse fire in Arlington Heights, Illinois firefighters have a long tradition of risking their safety to protect our communities. That courage comes at a high price to their own safety that makes firefighting one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.