• 99% of the 421 workplace shootings that happened were in retail trade.
• 10% of all fatal work injuries were workplace homicides.
• 4 out of every 5 homicide victims were male.
• 72% of assailants for men and 51% of assailants for women were robbers and other assailants.
• Personal acquaintances and relatives comprised 28% of assailants for women and 4% for men.
• There were 30-near-multiple workplace homicide incidents involving 7 suicides and 67 homicides.
• 80% of homicides (421 fatalities) involved shootings.
• 12% of shooters were ex- and current coworkers.
• 40% were robbers.
• 48% of shootings occurred in public buildings.
• 86% of shootings took place in the private sector.
• 14% took place in government.
• 26% of shooting decedents were involved in sales and related occupations.

Chicago, Illinois Workers Compensation
Our Chicago workers’ compensation law firm represents clients injured or those whose loved ones died from work-related accidents, illnesses, or crimes. Employees and their families cannot sue their employers, but they can avail of the work injury benefits that they are owed under state law. It doesn’t matter whether anyone was at fault.

Unfortunately, some insurers will try to dispute your claim. Or, you may receive less benefits than what you are actually owed. It is important that you have good Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation legal representation.

Workplace Shootings, US Department of Labor

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (PDF)

Illinois Department of Labor

The deadly Illinois work accident happened at around 3pm as Nowland was removing wet corn from inside the bin. The corn collapsed on the worker and covered him.

Rescuers in grain removal trucks and with their equipment were unable to rescue Nowland in time. OSHA is going to investigate whether proper safety precautions had been put in place and whether the deadly Illinois work accident could have been prevented.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation
Our Illinois workers’ compensation law firm wants to remind you that if your family member was killed in an Illinois work accident, you should file your claim for survivors’ benefits as soon as possible. An experienced Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can make sure you receive the maximum that you are owed.

Some reasons why grain bins are a suffocation hazard:
• New grain bins tend to be large in size, as are grain handling rates
• Often, grain bin workers work solo when moving or monitoring grain
• A worker may start grain transfer without realizing there is a co-worker in the bin
• Inadequate rescue response plan
• Inadequate safety measures

It doesn’t matter whether anyone was at fault in causing an Illinois grain bin accident. Employers should provide their employees with Illinois workers’ compensation for their work-related injuries or illness. Family members of a worker killed because of his/her job should get survivors' benefits.

Worker dies in Geneseo grain elevator accident, WQAD, August 27, 2010

Suffocation Hazard in Grain Bins, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
OSHA

OSHA Lambasts Grain Companies for Workplace Deaths and Injuries, FairWarning, August 5, 2010

In other recent Illinois construction accident news, a highway construction worker was killed when he was hit by a dump truck that backed over him in Rushville on Tuesday on US 24. The worker that died, 24-year-old Thomas Acker, worked with the Schuyler County Highway Department.

Chicago Construction Accidents
There are safety measures that must be in place in order to decrease the risk of injury or death from a construction accident. Construction work can be dangerous work to begin with, which is why carelessness is not an option when it comes to keeping workers safe.

That said, regardless of whether anyone was at fault in causing a construction accident, most workers are entitled to Chicago workers’ compensation for their work injuries, illness, or the death of a loved one on the job. Injury victims and their families may also be entitled to damages from liable third parties, which is an issue that an experienced Chicago construction accident law firm can help you determine and pursue.

Cook County construction accident lawsuits have been successfully won against construction companies, sub-contractors, engineers, architects, building designers, equipment manufacturers, insurer companies, and others. With so many parties potentially involved, determining who is liable can be a complex process. The sooner you retain the services of a good Chicago construction accident law firm, the easier it will be to figure out what happened and who caused it.

Construction accident seriously injures worker in Nokomis, Illinois, KMOV, August 25, 2010

Illinois man dies in highway work accident, Hannibal Courier Post, August 24, 2010

Trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed last February when a 12,000-pound killer whale pulled her into the water and drowned her at the SeaWorld in Orlando. Dozens of tourists, some of them were attending the "Dine with Shamu" show at the time, witnessed the tragic accident.

Since Brancheau’s death, trainers are no longer allowed in the tanks with orcas.

According WESH.com, Brancheau’s husband Scott Brancheau has hired a wrongful death lawyer. It is not known at this time whether he intends to sue SeaWorld or another party.

Generally, employees and their families are usually entitled to workers’ compensation or survivors’ benefits and cannot sue an employer for personal injury or wrongful death. However, Florida law has a narrow exception that allows an employee to file a civil suit against an employer if the latter knew without a doubt that the worker was at risk of injury or death.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation
Filing a Chicago workers’ compensation claim or a third party injury lawsuit can be a confusing process unless you have an Illinois workers’ compensation law firm working to ensure that you receive all that you are owed. Getting hurt or losing someone you love in a work accident is an unfortunate occurrence and there is no reason that you should incur additional financial losses when other parties should be held liable.

Husband Of Killed SeaWorld Trainer Hires Lawyer, WESH, August 25, 2010

Feds cite SeaWorld in trainer's death, SignonSanDiego, August 23, 2010

SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau dies in killer-whale attack in Orlando, Palm Beach Post, February 25, 2010

Related Web Resources:
SeaWorld

OSHA

SeaWorld Trainer Dies in Fatal Killer Whale Attack, ChicagoWorkersCompensationLawyersBlog, February 25, 2010

Across industries, there were 4,340 worker fatalities last year, down from the 5,214 worker deaths in 2008. Also, construction worker deaths among private construction companies went down 16%.

More US Worker Fatality Statistics:
• Workplace fatalities among blacks went down from 533 in 2008 to 407 last year.
• Deaths involving white workers went down 16% to 3,059.
• The number of homicides at work declined by 1% to 521 fatalities—80% of the deaths involved shootings.
• Workplace suicides dropped 9.9% to 237 deaths.
• Transportation accidents were once again the number one cause of worker deaths—20% took place on highways.
• Agriculture, fishing, forestry, and hunting deaths dropped from 672 in 2008 to 551 worker deaths last year.
• There were 278 crop production-related deaths last year.

The biggest workers’ compensation insurers last year in terms of policy sales were Liberty Mutual Group Inc., Travelers Cos., National Association of Insurance Commissioners, American International Group Inc., and Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation
Who was at fault should not be a factor when it comes to receiving Illinois workers’ compensation benefits. Under state law, workers injured on the job are entitled to work injury benefits from their employer’s insurer. It is unfortunate that sometimes disputes arise over whether or not these benefits are warranted. Our Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers are here to fight for our clients so that they can receive the benefits owed to them.

Worker Fatalities Fall 17% on Decline in Construction Deaths, Bloomberg, August 19,2 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

Illinois Department of Labor

The defendant of this Chicago injury lawsuit is BASF Corp., the largest chemical company in the world and a supplier of diacetyl. It is expected that in the next 10 years, Solis, who now has 25% normal lung capacity, will have to undergo a lung transplant.

Popcorn Lung
The only cure for Popcorn lung is a transplant. The disease can inflame the small airways in the lungs, leading to scarring while eliminating air flow. It can also cause fatalities.

Popcorn plant workers are among those at risk of suffering from this condition. The National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health discovered the connection between popcorn factory workers and bronchiolitis obliterans in 2003 and 2004. Hundreds of workers have been affected, and a number have filed civil suits.

One worker was awarded $20 million. Other ex-Jasper Popcorn Co. plant workers were also awarded injury compensation, including two $15 million popcorn lung awards and a $2.7 million award. Butter flavoring suppliers International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and Bush Boake Allen Inc. were the defendants.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation and Third Party Lawsuits
Remember that as an injured employee, not only are you likely entitled to Illinois workers’ compensation from your employer but there also may be liable third parties that you should receive Illinois personal injury compensation or wrongful death recovery from.

llinois worker wins $30 million verdict in diacetyl popcorn chemical lawsuit, The Joplin Globe, August 16, 2010

Jury Awards Popcorn Lung Victim $30 Million, NewsInferno, August 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Popcorn May Cause Lung Disease, ABC News, September 6, 2007

Preventing Lung Disease in Workers Who Use or Make Flavorings, NIOSH

When workers began to fill a tower with gasoline, the tower overflowed, sending excess gas into a back-up unit that also overflowed. A geyser of gasoline then shot up into the air. The gas created a large vapor cloud on the ground, which was likely ignited by an idling truck. Several office trailers filled with workers were destroyed.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration originally fined BP $21 million dollars for failing to take sufficient action to protect workers from the blast. After determining that BP still had not met its commitments to worker safety, last year the fine was increased to the current amount.

The wrongful death and injury attorneys for those that were injured and killed are hoping that now that BP has admitted that it has repeatedly failed to meet safety standards the company’s criminal probation will be revoked. BP reached a $373 million plea deal in 2007 over the 2005 Texas City refinery blast, a number of investigations related to an oil pipeline leak, and price fixing in the propane gas market.

BP is also now liable for billions of dollars in compensation payouts and fines following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this year. There was also the blast that sank the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, which BP had leased, last April. 11 workers were killed when the rig exploded.

Chicago Worker Injuries
In Lake County, Will County, DuPage County, and Cook County, Illinois, our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers represent workers with work injury claims against their employers. We also represent employees with third party Chicago injury and wrongful death lawsuits related to their work injury accident.

BP to pay 50 million dollar fine for deadly 2005 Texas blast, AFP/Google, August 12, 2010

Relatives Fear the Dead Oil Rig Workers Are Forgotten, AOL News, May 23, 2010

The Explosion At Texas City, CBS News, October 29, 2006

Related Web Resources:
BP Global

Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (PDF)

Fund recipients are supposed to $150,000 plus medical benefits. If the afflicted worker is no longer alive, then their surviving family members are entitled to get compensation.

Blockson employees that are eligible to get work injury compensation from this fund developed cancer because they helped construct atomic weapons between March 1951 and June 1960. Yet Department of Labor statistics reveal that of the 363 claims filed by former Blockson workers and relatives, only 102 have been paid. Many have not even been apprised of the status of their claims. Also, of 5,170 claims filed by former employees from 29 eligible Illinois facilities, the fund has paid only 1,250 of them.

Hopefully, this situation will soon change. Federal officials are expected to rule on a special petition filed on behalf of the former employees and surviving family members. The petition seeks to eliminate the requirement that a claimant must prove that his/her cancer was caused by the radiation. A claim would still, however, have to provide a physician’s verification that the former worker was afflicted with one of several kinds of cancer.

It can be devastating to find out that you now have a life-threatening illness or disease because of the hazards that you were exposed to at work.

Former Joliet chemical workers wait for radiation funds, Chicago Breaking News, August 2, 2010

Facilities Eligible for Funds, Chicago Tribune

Related Web Resources:
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program

Also injured in the construction accident were 72-year-old David Bethel and 43-year-old Robert Dena. Both men, along with Nichols, work for Deno Electric. 17-year-old Thomas DiPlacido sustained burn injuries. Two firefighters and another worker were treated for their injuries and later released.

In other recent construction accident news, two workers were injured earlier this week when they fell into a 10-foot ditch. They were in stable condition when they were transported from the work site to the hospital.

On Tuesday, the collapse of 16 trusses at a work site injured a 46-year-old construction worker. Greg Murphy sustained head injuries after he fell 25 feet and struck his head. Another worker, 29-year-old Jared J. Morisset, hurt his left ankle. 35-year-old Jeff W. Spanhanks hurt his left hip.

On Wednesday, a teen worker was killed in a construction accident when a high wind that could have been moving at a force of 47 mph blew over a concrete wall that had recently been built. Keith J. LaFountain died from blunt-force trauma injuries.

Chicago, Illinois Construction Accidents
Remember to file your Chicago workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible. Or, if your loved one was the one who died in a Chicago construction accident, you should submit your claim for survivors’ benefits and find out if you are entitled to file a third party Chicago wrongful death lawsuit.

Blackstone Man Killed in Condo Blast, Telegram, July 30, 2010

Man injured in Menomonie construction accident, Leader-Telegram, August 4, 2010

2 Workers Hurt In Esparto Construction Accident, CW, August 3, 2010

Edgerton school's wall falls, kills teen worker, ToledoBlade, August 5, 2010

Oak Park chief financial officer Craig Lesner says that workers’ compensation payouts for time off taken by injured employees is the number one reason the village has gone above budget. The second biggest reason for going over budget is the $412,241 paid for Illinois premises liability claims, including Oak Park trip and fall accidents on public sidewalks. The village is attempting to come up with ways to decrease the number of work injury incidents and slip and fall accidents in the future, which will hopefully cut costs.

In Illinois, not only do injured workers get paid while they take time off work to recover, but they can also seek to receive an Illinois workers’ compensation settlement after they go back to work. Unfortunately, insurers can sometimes make it difficult for injured workers to receive all of the work injury benefits that they are owed. There are also workers who make the mistake of not filing their Illinois workers’ compensation claim or waiting until much later to do so.

Remember, you cannot sue your employer for Chicago personal injury, but you are likely entitled to Chicago workers’ compensation, which should cover your medical expenses and pay you an income. The amount that you are entitled to get will, of course, depend on the specifics of your case and Illinois workers’ compensation rates.

Oak Park over budget by nearly $1 million on workers comp, settlements, Wednesday Journal Online, August 3, 2010

Benefits Rates, Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

Related Web Resources:
Village of Oak Park, Illinois

Workers' Compensation, Nolo

Thompson says that he blames the railroad company for his railroad worker injuries. He is accusing CSX of committing a number of negligent acts, including failing to give him a safe work place with safe work conditions and safe work methods and equipment.

The railroad conductor claims that as a result of the poor work conditions that he was subjected to, he has experienced mental anguish, great pain and disability, and extreme nervousness that have led to him developing his degenerative, disabling, permanent, and progressive injuries. He also says that his earning capacity has been impaired, he has already lost large sums of money, and he has incurred medical expenses.

Railroad workers can sue their employers for their work injuries. Unlike other workers, railroad employees are not covered under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, which provides workers with work injury benefits regardless of who was at fault. However, under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act, railroad workers can file work injury lawsuits. Compensation under FELA is based on comparative negligence and not a benefits schedule.

Common railroad worker injuries:
• Back injuries
• Repetitive injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Train accident injuries
• Joint injuries
• Neck injuries
• Burn injuries
• Slip and fall injuries
• Hand injuries
• Wrist injuries
• Elbow injuries
• Knee injuries
• Shoulder injuries

CSX conductor claims injuries over 42-year career, Madison Record, July 20, 2010

Related Web Resources:
CSX Transportation

Railroad Workers, Encyclopedia of Chicago

One of the her legs was crushed during the work accident. The other leg sustained serious injuries. It took rescue workers about 45 minutes to get her out. She was flown to the hospital.

Truck Driver Injuries
Driving a commercial truck is arduous, physical work. The hours spent behind the steering wheel can lead to back and neck injuries. There are also the injuries a trucker can suffer when involved in a Chicago truck accident. Poor diet, lack of sleep, the stress of having to meet delivery deadlines, lack of exercise, having to stay in a seated position for hours at a time, body clocks that must cater to the rhythms of the job, and driver fatigue, increase the chances of illness and injury. Musculoskeletal disorders, chronic illnesses, carpal tunnel syndrome, and upper extremity injuries have been known to happen.

With their heavy cargo, truckers also risk injuries when loading and unloading their trucks. Slip and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents are not uncommon. Truck drivers also risk exposure to the hazardous substances they are carrying in the event that a Chicago truck collision triggers a cargo leak.

It is important that you file your Illinois workers' compensation claim as soon as possible.

Woman injured by falling steel pipes at industrial site in Dupo, BND, July 24, 2010

Commercial Truck Driver Health and Safety- Preventing Injury and Illness, NIH.gov

Related Web Resources:
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2008, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Long Haul Truck Drivers at Risk of Suffering from Upper Extremity Injuries and Back Pain, ChicagoWorkersCompensationLawyer, July 1, 2010

The Illinois work accident happened on Wednesday morning in a bin belonging to Haasbach LLC. Rescuers had to cut holes in the bin’s sides and drain thousands of pounds of corn to retrieve the victims. The rescue operation took about 12 hours and more than 2 dozen firefighters.

According to a preliminary investigation, the three workers were not using safety harnesses or life lines at the time of the incident. Also, at age 14, Wyatt was under the legal age limit allowed for who can work in a grain bin.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation
Although employers are supposed to follow regulations and do what is necessary to keep workers safe, this isn’t always the case and even when it is, work accidents can happen. OSHA statistics report that from 1998 to 2008 there were 16 Illinois grain bin accidents.

Workers injured in grain bin accidents should file an Illinois workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter whether or not anyone was at fault. State law requires that employers provide workers with work accident benefits. An experienced Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can help you determine how much you should receive. In the event of a dispute with your employer’s insurer as to whether or not your injuries are work-related enough to warrant benefits, your Illinois workers’ compensation attorney can represent you and aggressively advocate on your behalf.

Mount Carroll in shock over grain bin deaths, Quad-City Times, July 29, 2010

OSHA: 2 Illinois grain bin deaths were preventable, AP/Google, July 28, 2010

Grain bin accidents happen quickly, SoutheastFarmPress, November 6, 2002

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Industrial Commission

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Grain Bin Safety, University of Illinois Extension

The former employees contend that the Schaumburg-based company knew that the chemicals used to manufacture computer chips and semiconductors were toxic and could cause people who were exposed to them to have babies with birth defects. The children of the plaintiffs are suffering from different conditions, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, brain malformations, autism, sterility, skeletal deformities, and physical deformities. Two of the children were missing an ear when they were born. Some of the workers’ kids are now adults.

The children’s parents worked at different Motorola facilities between 1965 and 2007. The plaintiffs are accusing the defendant of knowing (or if not, then they should have known) that reproductive harm was a possible side effect of working with the dangerous substances. They also contend that the company did not provide protective gear for them when they were in what were supposed to be sterile “clean rooms” that ended up circulating the allegedly toxic substances through the air.

The plaintiffs say that in 1986, there was already a study by Johns Hopkins University and IBM that reported that solvents, chemicals, metals, and other compounds can have a dangerous effect on reproduction. Different chemical manufacturers, occupational safety institutes, and trade associations had also warned that working with or around certain products may prove harmful. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages from Motorola.

Employers are supposed to take all necessary steps to protect workers from injury or death while they are doing their jobs. That said, regardless of who was at fault, workers are usually entitled to Illinois workers’ compensation. Even if you are no longer working for your employer, there still may be legal options that you can pursue if you later discover that your injuries or illness occurred because of your former job. If you believe that your child or another family was injured because they were exposed through hazardous substances through you because of your job, you and/or their may have grounds for Cook County personal injury recovery.

Ex-workers' lawsuit blames Motorola for birth defects, News-Sun, July 25, 2010

Ex-workers sue Motorola over kids’ birth defects, Chicago Breaking News, July 26, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Corporate Responsibility, Motorola

While there was a 19% drop in the nonfatal injury rate for young people, almost 8 million young workers still received medical care for their work injuries. Workers in the 18-19 age group had the highest nonfatal injury rate of all. 5,719 young employees died from their work injuries.

Other findings from the report:
• Events involving contact with objects or equipment were the ones that most often resulted in work injuries for young workers.
• Young workers had a twofold greater fatally rate than their older counterparts.
• Young Hispanic workers had a higher fatality rate than their Black and White counterpart.
• Most fatal work injuries involving young employees occurred in the areas of construction, service, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and industry.

Chicago, Illinois Workers Compensation
Cook County employers have a responsibility to make sure that workers, both young and old, are trained to do their jobs properly and safely. Employees must also be given the proper protective gear and clothing.

NIOSH: Injury Rate Among Young Workers Significantly Higher, Risk and Insurance, July 8, 2010

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths, Injuries and Illnesses of Young Workers, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Workers' Compensation Act

ASSE: Teens More Likely to Be Injured, AHS Today, June 29, 2007