Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

An Arlington Heights Illinois Jiffy Lube was found to have fall hazards and other safety issues during a recent U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection.

Our Illinois workers' compensation lawyers know that slip and falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries. Any work environment where a potential spill can occur, especially lubricant or oil, should take extra precautions to ensure that slips and falls don't happen.

Heartland Automotive Services was cited for the violations with proposed fines of $52,700. They operate at least 400 Jiffy Lubes around the country and have its corporate headquarters in Irving, Texas.

The Arlington Heights facility had one repeat violation for not keeping its floors dry and free from water and oil accumulation. A Jiffy Lube in Kansas City was cited for the same violation back in January of this year, which is why a repeat violation was issued to the parent company. An OSHA area spokeswoman said employers who are cited for repeat violations show a lack of dedication to workplace safety.

Other violations found at the Arlington Heights facility:

-Failing to assess the workplace for dangers that would require the use of personal protective equipment.

-Failing to guard exposed electrical parts.

-Not having a written hazard communication program.

-Not listing and labeling hazardous chemical containers.

-Failing to train workers on safety and hazard precautions.

-Lacking proper record keeping.

-Electrical boxes had missing knockouts.

It is important that if you slip and fall at work you remember the facts surrounding the incident. This is vital information if you want to recover damages from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation system. Just because you fell at work doesn't mean you automatically have a case -- you have to link the injuries from your fall to your job. Some cases are won and lost based on the amount of details a client can provide.

Let's look at two examples:

-A slip and fall in the parking lot of your employer.

What caused you to fall? Was there anything on the ground that caused the fall? Were you carrying needed items for your job? Was anything occurring at the time you fell that put you more at risk than someone who wasn't employed by your company?

-A slip and fall in an office of your employer.

Why did you fall? Was the floor wet? Were there obstacles in your path that shouldn't have been there? How was the lighting? Were you in a hurry to get to a meeting? Were you carrying work-related objects?

It is extremely helpful to write down as much information that you can remember as soon as you have an opportunity to about your slip and fall incident. Then let an experienced workers' compensation attorney sift through the details to make your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.