Category: Workers’ Compensation

Police officers face many risks on the job. Their work exposes them to the danger of motor vehicle accidents, falls, extreme weather and other hazardous circumstances. One of the most severe and constant risks in the law enforcement profession is the danger of assault in the line of duty. These incidents can be life-changing or fatal for officers, as workers’ compensation attorneys in Illinois know.

Compressed air is an important tool in many industries. It is commonly used as a low-maintenance source of power for a wide range of machinery. It is also ideal for removing debris or liquid from areas that are difficult to reach. Like every technology, it has its distinctive dangers. A Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer knows that employees who use compressed air unsafely face the risk of serious injury or even death.

Desk jobs are not free of physical hazards. Many serious accidents occur in offices, including incidents that may cause permanent disability. Numerous office workers are required to take time off every year after they are hurt on the job. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, falls are the single most common cause of injury in American offices. Every Chicago workers’ compensation attorney is acquainted with cases of forced retirement or premature death caused by falls in the office.

Downsizing is an uncomfortable reality in the modern job market. As more jobs are sent overseas and more workers are replaced by automated equipment, many people are at risk of losing their employment. A Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer knows that this situation is also difficult for the employees who are left behind in the workplace. Recent research suggests that downsizing may lead to decreased safety and additional injuries on the job.

A recent case in Illinois shows the danger of employing workers in older buildings without sufficient protection against environmental hazards. Six companies were fined a total of more than $130,000 after an OSHA investigation showed that they exposed their employees to asbestos, lead and silica during renovation work on a school building during July 2014. A Chicago workers’ compensation attorney can name many situations in which unprotected chemical exposure of this kind leads to lifelong disability.