Chicago Workers Compensation Lawyer Blog

Every year, per American Family Physician, hundreds of thousands of workers become afflicted with occupational diseases. Tens of thousands of these workers will die as a result. It is important that you make sure that you receive all your work illness benefits that you are owed. Our Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers can help you explore your legal options.

Unfortunately, diagnosing occupational illnesses sometimes take awhile. A worker may not want to link his/her affliction to work for fear of not being able to make a living. Also, it can take years for some illnesses' symptoms to fully manifest.

Examples of some health conditions linked to occupational exposure:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Asthma
• Chronic encephalopathy
• Cervical strain
• Interstitial fibrosis
• Hearing loss
• Infections that are transmitted orally or fecally
• Lung cancer
• Contact dermatitis
• Spontaneous abortion
• Birth defects
• Liver cancer
• Coronary disease
• Upper air irritation

The kind of occupational disease a worker can suffer from will, of course, depend on the conditions and environment the worker is exposed to on the job.

You would be surprised at the kind of occupations that can lead to occupational injuries and illnesses. For example:

• Computer work
• Letter sorting
• Mining
• Baking
• Plating
• Farming
• Teaching
• Health care work
• Prison work
• Animal care
• Construction
• Forestry

Unfortunately, problems can arise when availing of your work injury benefits. This is where an experienced Chicago, Illinois workers’ compensation lawyer can step in.

Recognizing Occupational Disease -- Taking an Effective Occupational History, American Family Physician

Related Web Resources:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Illinois Workers' Compensation Act

Today is Workers Memorial Day. The day is set aside to remember workers who were injured or died in work accidents. According go the AFL-CIO, 5,657 workers died in work accidents in 2007, while over 4 million others who were injured or got sick. That breaks down to about 15 workers killed a day and 10,959 others were injured. However, considering that there are limits to the injury reporting system, this amount is likely a conservative estimate. More likely, about 8 to 12 million workers get hurt or sick each year.

As part of its observation of Workers’ Memorial Day, the AFL-CIO issues its annual report, “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect.” Among its numerous findings:

• 50,000 to 60,000 workers sustain occupational disease each year.
• 5,657 worker deaths occurred because of traumatic injuries.
• $145 billion to $290 billion a year is spent directly and directly on disabling injuries. But again, these costs only take into account injuries reported to employers.
• The report also reveals that Latino workers continue to be the group most likely to risk death while working.
• 937 Latino workers died in work accidents in 2007.

The report says that the Bush Administration neglected to address a number of health problems and safety issues during its eight years and even blocked or took away certain Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration rules.

Lawmakers are hoping to implement better laws to protect our workers. Last week, HR 2067 was introduced. The bill calls for tougher safety and health penalties, grants more workers protection by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, provides more worker safety rights, and protects whistleblowers.

April 28 is Workers Memorial Day. The date was chosen because it is also the date that OSHA was created in 1971.

Fortunately, many US workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Workers Memorial Day 2009, AFL-CIO

HR 2067, The Protecting America's Workers Act, Washington Watch

Related Web Resources:
Death on the Job Report, 2008

Mine Safety and Health Administration

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