Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

A number of companies are facing fines for unsafe work conditions in Illinois as more citations are handed out by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

PolyChem Services Inc. in Chicago Heights now has one safety and five health violations, including a willful health violation for failing to ensure that confined spaces were safe to enter, according to an OSHA press release. The company experienced a work accident in Illinois after a worker experienced second- and third-degree burns at their plant in November of last year.

"Requiring workers to enter confined spaces where known hazards exist without implementing a safe entry permit program is unacceptable," said Gary Anderson, OSHA's area director in Calumet City. "Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their facilities and must take appropriate precautions by following OSHA regulations to ensure the safety and health of their workers."

Our Chicago workers' compensation attorneys recognize the need for safe working conditions and would like to remind employees that employers are required, by law, to ensure that their facilities are safe for all workers.

Polychem received a willful violation totally $42,000 after employees were allegedly required to enter a portable baker tank and a reactor vessel that had not been evaluated first for safe entry by purging.

The company also saw four serious health violations, with penalties of nearly $17,000, including failing to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, failing to assess work sites for hazards requiring personal protective equipment, failing to implement a hazardous chemical training program and for the use of electrical cables for non-authorized purposes.

The serious safety citation came with a $4,200 penalty, as they were cited for failing to provide employees with electrical safety training necessary to perform voltage testing. This training is used for employees who are exposed to electrical shock hazards.

A second company, Bill Smith Auto Parts Inc. of Urbana, received six health violations and 14 safety violations for exposing their workers to equipment hazards and failing to provide health programs for respirator protection. That company is facing fines near $50,000 as a result of an inspection conducted earlier this year.

"This company failed to take basic precautions such as installing machine guarding, properly maintaining powered industrial trucks and ensuring the proper storage of potentially hazardous materials," said Tom Bielema, director for OSHA's Peoria Area Office. "Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their facilities and for following OSHA standards to ensure the safety and health of their workers."

The company received 13 serious violations including a lack of a work rest on grinder machinery, modifying powered industrial trucks for noncertified uses, not providing guarding on pulleys and other equipment lower than 7 feet from the floor to prevent struck-by hazards, not removing damaged cords and electrical equipment from use, a lack of guarding on open-sided floors and failing to properly store compressed gas cylinders

They also received 5 serious health violations for failing to develop and implement a hazardous communications program, failing to have a written respirator program, failing to mark hazardous material containers properly, failing to have material data safety sheets available for hazardous materials in use and failing to conduct hazardous chemical training

We would like to remind all employees that it is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with a safe working environment. If an employer neglects to keep up with safety recommendations, they will be held responsible and will face the consequences and pay the appropriate fines for their violations. All employees are urged to speak up at their place of employment if you see unsafe condition or potential hazards.

Continue reading " More Companies Face Fines for Unsafe Working Conditions in Illinois " »

Educating employers and their workers regarding prevention of heat-related illnesses is the goal of a new nationwide outreach proposal by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Our Illinois workers' compensation lawyers know that working in extreme temperatures can cause heat-related Chicago work illnesses that could be life threatening.

"If you're working outdoors, you're at risk for heat-related illnesses that can cause serious medical problems and even death," said Secretary Solis. "But heat illness can be prevented. This Labor Department campaign will reach across the country with a very simple message – water, rest and shade."

Heat-related illnesses happen to thousands of outdoor workers each year. What begins as heat exhaustion can quickly turn into heat stroke, which caused 30 workers' deaths last year. Our bodies sweat to keep us cool if we don't replace all the fluid that we sweat out our body overheats. If our body temperature goes above 104 it can cause a coma or seizures which can lead to a heart attack and death.

If you must work outside:

-Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and cut down on caffeine.
-Wear light colored and lightweight clothing.
-Try to stay in the shade.
-Take frequent breaks.

Signs and Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

-Profuse sweating and fatigue.
-Headache, dizziness and fainting.
-Pale, clammy skin, nausea and vomiting
-Extreme thirst and rapid heartbeat
-Muscle and abdominal cramps.

If you or someone you are working with shows signs or symptoms of heat exhaustion get to a cool or shady place quickly. Drink plenty of water. If there is no improvement in 30-60 minutes medical attention should be sought.

"As we move into the summer months, it is very important for workers and employers to take the steps necessary to stay safe in extreme heat," said OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "Drinking water often, taking breaks and limiting time in the heat are simple, effective ways to prevent heat illness."

OSHA developed Spanish and English versions of heat-related illness educational material for employees; along with training material for employers. California OSHA assisted federal OSHA because they have had a successful outreach campaign on heat illness. OSHA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (U.S. NOAA) recently joined together on weather service alerts adding worker safety precautions when the forecast calls for extreme heat temperatures.

Further information is available on OSHA's heat illness Website and U.S. NOAA Heat Watch Web page.

Continue reading " Chicago workers should be concerned about heat-related illnesses as temperatures rise " »

Two men are lucky to be alive after a crane toppled over, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago workers' compensation attorneys know that construction remains the deadliest occupation in Illinois. Of the 158 work place fatalities in 2009, 27 were in construction.

The two construction workers were on a South Side bridge project when a lift-crane toppled over, hitting one of them. The accident happened on the 9900 block of South Genoa Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood around 10 a.m. As the crane fell over, it hit the upper body of a 59-year-old worker but thankfully he was not crushed. He was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn and though his injuries were serious they did not appear to be life threatening. The operator of the crane was also injured and was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park and was reported to be in good condition. Law enforcement launched an investigation to determine what caused the accident.

Common causes of crane accidents:

-Cranes tip over or collapse because the ground beneath them is uneven or unstable or the load is above the crane’s capacity.

-Contacting power lines is the leading cause of crane accidents. If any part of the crane hits a live power line the electrocution of the crane operator, as well as any other workers in the area can occur.

-Crane assembly and disassembly needs be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After assembly tests should be done to determine the stability of the crane to avoid an accident.

-A crane boom collapse happens when it is extended beyond the manufacturer’s instructions. Over extension can lessen the crane’s capacity to carry loads, and can cause tremendous stress the mechanical, structural and hydraulic components of the crane.

Tips to prevent crane accidents:

-Properly train crane operators and those working around cranes.
-Cranes should have regular maintenance to prevent part failures.
-Crane loads need to be properly rigged to avoid workers being crushed.
-Never overload a crane, know the cranes load capacity.
-Make sure the crane assembly and disassembly is done properly and performed on level ground.

Continue reading " Two Illinois workers injured when crane topples on Chicago's South Side " »

Potential formaldehyde exposure from some hair products is the warning by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that is going out to hair salon owners and staff.

It has been discovered that hair straightening and smoothing products contain formaldehyde unbeknownst to the user. Hair stylists should always read labels on hair products before using in order to avoid serious illnesses like cancer.

Our workers' compensation attorneys in Chicago know how toxic formaldehyde is and are aware of its connection to nose and lung cancer. It can also irritate the nose and eyes and cause serious allergic reactions.

Investigations have been ongoing by OSHA due to numerous complaints about possible formaldehyde exposure. Warnings have already been issued through Connecticut's Department of Public Health, Oregon's OSHA agencies and in many other states. Formaldehyde was found in air quality tests by federal OSHA when stylists were using hair smoothing products that were suppose to be formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde must be listed on labels or in material safety data sheets if a product has it as an ingredient.

California's OSHA has issued citations to a distributor and importer of hair products, which claimed to be formaldehyde-free. However, when tested the products contained formaldehyde.

It is a required OSHA standard that all distributors, manufacturers and importers of goods containing formaldehyde in any form, or that can emit formaldehyde during use, must include facts and information on the hazards of formaldehyde on the labels and the material safety data sheets that are given to employers.

"Workers have the right to know the risks associated with the chemicals with which they work, and how to protect themselves," said federal OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels. "Employers need to know these risks in order to ensure the safety and health of their employees."

In order to protect hair stylist from formaldehyde exposures salon owners should avoid any products that contain: methanal, paraform, methylene oxide, oxymethylene, oxomethane, formic aldehyde, formaldehyde, methylene glycol, formalin or Chemical Abstract Service Number 50-00-0.

OSHA has safety standards for anyone using formaldehyde-containing products which include some of the following:
-Conduct air quality testing and monitoring.
-The work area needs to be properly ventilated.
-Workers need to be trained on the hazards of working with formaldehyde.
-Gloves, Chemical resistant aprons, face shields and chemical splash goggles must be worn when using hazardous products.
Additional health hazard information on formaldehyde can be found on OSHA's website.

Continue reading " Formaldehyde a dangerous work hazard to hair stylists in Chicago " »