Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

Jewel Food Stores Inc. in Franklin Park was cited recently by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for 13 safety violations with proposed fines totaling $75,000. The company's process safety management system was evaluated and it was discovered that many required components for handling ammonia refrigeration systems were lacking.

Our Chicago workers' compensation lawyers know that ammonia, even in small amounts, can cause extreme irritation to the lungs, eyes and skin.

"Developing and following written procedures for the handling of substances like ammonia is critical to employees' safety," said Diane Turek, OSHA's director for the Chicago North Area Office located in Des Plaines. "Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their workplaces and following OSHA's regulations."

Jewel Food Stores Inc. was inspected back in early 2010 and they were found to be lacking in the development and implementation of written operating protocols regarding process safety information that supply clear instruction for safely carrying out activities related to each covered procedure. They had not corrected this issue so they were cited for a repeat violation.

The company was cited for several serious violations including:
-Lacking to document tests and inspections executed on process equipment in order to preserve its mechanical integrity.

-Failing to perform tests and inspections recommended by the manufacturer.

-Lacking generally accepted engineering practices while carrying out testing and inspections of process equipment.

-Not having written protocols to maintain the reliability of process equipment.

-Failing to certify yearly that operation protocols are accurate and current.

-Safe upper and lower limits were not included in the process safety information on items like temperatures, flows, pressures or compositions.

-Piping and instrument diagrams were not part of the process safety information.

-The hazard analysis didn't deal with the dangers of the operating and process procedures or the regular operations for each operating step.

-Not maintaining a contract worker illness and injury log, and failing to have protocols dealing with small discharges of ammonia in the emergency action plan resulted in two other-than-serious violations.

According to OSHA ammonia is not a poison and recurring exposure to it creates no chronic effects on body. But in small airborne concentrations ammonia is extremely annoying to the eyes, lungs and skin.

-Eyes: penetrating the eye more quickly than other alkalis ammonia can cause reactions ranging from mild irritation to destruction of the eye.

-Lungs: ammonia causes damage to sensitive respiratory tissue. Being exposed to ammonia vapor can produce painful or difficulty in breathing, convulsive coughing, lung congestion and in severe cases death.

Skin: the time and the concentration of ammonia on the skin determine the damage that can be done. Skin damage can range from a mild irritation, to a dark freeze-dry burn, to tissue devastation. Using water to dilute the ammonia is the best way to stop it from spreading on the skin.

Continue reading " Handling Ammonia in the Workplace Can Be Hazardous to an Illinois Workers' Eyes, Lungs and Skin " »

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been issuing an excessive heat warning to Illinois and surrounding states recently due to temperatures rising to mid-90's and above.

The United States Department of Labor is reminding workers throughout the country to use "Water. Rest. Shade." on the job in order to prevent unnecessary heat-related illnesses in Chicago and elsewhere.

Heat stroke and heat exhaustion occur far too often in the workplace because employers fail to make the work environment safe for employees who are required to work in extreme temperatures. Illinois workers' compensation lawyers know that not only are outdoor workers at risk but employees who work in confined spaces, use machine-operated hand tools or operate large machinery indoors are also susceptible to heat-related illness on the job.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration's Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement to employers to keep employees protected in extreme hot temperatures. Every work site should have medical services available and a plan in place to prevent heat-related illnesses. Employers should remind employees to drink small amounts of water every 15 minutes by providing plenty of water at the site. Workers should have scheduled work breaks in either air conditioned or shaded areas throughout the day. New employees should be given a grace time to get used to extreme heat conditions. Any heavy tasks that need performed should be done during the first part of the shift before temperatures have a chance to rise.
State of Illinois Department of Labor recently reported that millions of workers in Illinois are susceptible to heat-related illness. When body temperatures rise, heat illness sets in in the form of cramps, rashes, exhaustion, and stroke.

Some symptoms may include weakness, wet skin, dizziness, irritability, confusion or headaches. Heat stroke occurs when the body temperature rises to a dangerous level and should be treated by a medical professional immediately.

"People who work outdoors and in many industrial settings can become extremely sick from heat exposure," said Joe Costigan, Director, Illinois Department of Labor. "We want to make sure that employees and employers are aware of potential heat-related injuries and are prepared to take the necessary steps to ensure workers remain healthy and safe on the job."

IDOL offers the following tips to employees to protect themselves from heat-related illness or injury:

-Hydration is the most important factor in reducing the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Drink plenty of fluid in small doses throughout the day.

-Don't be afraid to take breaks on the job when temperatures are extreme. Keep a cool wet towel to place on your neck or forehead during rest time.

-Talk to your supervisor about limiting the time spent in full exposure to the sun. Inquire if there are other jobs to be done in shaded areas or inside during the days with extreme temperatures and high humidity.

-Employees should be fully trained about the hazards of working outdoors or in confined spaces in scorching temperatures. Having an awareness of what symptoms to look for and what to do if you or a co-worker experience symptoms is a must during the summer months.

NOAA reports that heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. with roughly 700 people dying each year from heat-related exposure or illness indoors and outdoors.

Employees are encouraged to call the Illinois Department of Labor at 217-782-9386 to report unsafe conditions or heat-related hazards in the workplace. Workers' compensation lawyers in Illinois can help get you the compensation you deserve if you have experienced an illness or injury related to hazards at work.

Continue reading " Rise in Chicago Heat Index Puts Workers Susceptible to Heat-Related Illness at Illinois Job Sites " »

An East Peoria, Illinois company has been fined by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to lock out electrical equipment, according to an OSHA press release.

Our Illinois workers' compensation lawyers are aware that nationwide, roughly 3 million workers service electrical equipment and are at a great risk of death or injury if lock out/tag out procedures are not properly implemented. It is estimated that about 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year are prevented by complying with lock out/tag out standards set by OSHA.

Three safety violations were issued to Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria recently by OSHA for failing to follow appropriate procedures to lock out and tag out the energy sources of equipment. An OSHA investigation was sparked by a December 2010 incident where a worker was injured trying to fix a jam on the link orienter in the full link heat treat area. The company faces anticipated penalties of $66,000 because lock out/tag out requirements for the equipment hadn't been implemented prior to the worker going into the area.

"Employers have a responsibility to take all necessary safety precautions to protect workers," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "Caterpillar previously had been cited for failing to properly lock out and tag out equipment, which should have made them familiar with OSHA's regulations and requirements."

Because workers were not trained on lock out/tag out procedures and due to lock out or tag out devices were not affixed to isolate energy to the link orienter the company was cited for two repeat violations. It is disappointing that Caterpillar's East Peoria facility continues to have this safety issue since they had these same violations during a May 2009 inspection. A serious violation was issued for failing to provide to its workers a lockout or tag out device for the link orienter.

How can employers protect their workers from hazardous energy accidents?

-Enforce, develop and implement an energy control program.
-Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out and only use tag out devices if it provides workers protection equivalent to lockout devices.
-Make sure new or overhauled equipment can be locked out.
-Implement, develop and enforce an effective tag out program when equipment can't be locked out.
-Use only authorized lock out/tag out devices for the particular equipment and make sure that they are standardized, durable and substantial.
-Annually inspect energy control procedures.
-Provide effective training to all workers.
-Comply with extra energy control conditions in OSHA standards when: outside contractors work at the site, when machines or equipment must be repositioned or tested, in group lockout circumstances, and during personnel or shift changes.

How can workers be safer around hazardous energy? Workers need training to make sure they understand, know and follow the companies hazardous energy control procedures.

The training by the company must include:

-Reviewing the energy control program.
-Workers need to know the pertinent energy control procedures that affect their duties.
-Reviewing the OSHA standards related to lock out/tag out standards.

Continue reading " Lock Out Devices Critical in Reducing Injuries to Workers at Energy Control Job Sites in Illinois " »

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched an investigation after an accident last year at the Honeywell International plant in Metropolis, Illinois that may cost the company $119,000 in proposed fines.

Our Chicago workers' compensation lawyers are aware of the release of hydrogen fluoride vapor from the Honeywell processing plant. This could have been a catastrophic event for the workers of the plant.

OSHA issued 17 serious safety violations to the company for process safety management violations following the December 2010 release of hydrogen fluoride vapor at its Metropolis processing plant. The company's internal response team prevented this from becoming a huge disaster that resulted in no injuries.

"Honeywell International has a responsibility to properly train its employees, and to strictly adhere to safety procedures and processes in all facilities," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "OSHA is committed to ensuring that all workers are provided a safe and healthful workplace."

Honeywell International employs about 560 workers at the Metropolis facility that processes raw/mine-extracted uranium into uranium hexafluoride. Nuclear power generation processes uses the uranium hexafluoride. The following are the serious violations from hazards that could have caused death or serious physical harm to workers that Honeywell International knew or should have known about.

-Permitting cylinders to be exposed to physical damage.
-Field verifications were inaccurate on tanks and valves.
-Using non-compliant equipment.
-Not having clear written operating instructions regarding unloading processes of hydrogen fluoride into storage tanks and switching storage tanks.
-Failing to deal with the human factors regarding remote operating valves on the hydrogen fluoride storage tanks.
-Lacking to resolve and document issues addressed by the process hazard analysis team.
-Failing to establish written protocols to maintain the integrity of process equipment.
-Failing to apply written emergency operating protocols for emptying hydrogen fluoride tanks.
-Failing to execute appropriate inspections and checks to make sure equipment was properly installed.
-Failing to implement and establish written protocols to manage changes to process chemicals, procedures and equipment.

Honeywell International was also cited for a poor incident report that didn't include factors causing the vapor release and the suggestions resulting from the internal investigation.

Serious lung damage can result from inhaling hydrogen fluoride vapors. Fatal pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) can be a delayed reaction not apparent for hours after the initial exposure. OSHA limits airborne concentrations of hydrogen fluoride to workers to an average of 3 parts per million over an 8-hour work day. Irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract can occur with airborne concentrations of 10 to 15 parts per million.

Concentrations of 30 parts per million is extremely dangerous to life and health and could have irreversible health effects. A brief exposure to airborne concentrations above 50 parts per million is usually fatal.

Continue reading " Honeywell International Cited for Exposing Chicago Workers to Hydrogen Fluoride Vapor in Metropolis Plant " »