Chicago Workers' Compensation Law Blog

The police department of an Illinois village reported its response to an emergency when a landscape worker suffered workplace injuries. Officers from the village's public safety department also rushed to the scene to attend to the worker who suffered a head injury. According to an incident report, it was a construction-related accident that occurred on a recent Wednesday.

Authorities say the injured man was a member of a landscaping crew who was planting large palm trees. Under the circumstances yet to be determined, one tree fell over, striking the worker against his neck and head. Reportedly, it was suspected that the worker suffered cardiac arrest after the tree hit him, and paramedics rushed him to a medical facility.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it has launched an investigation into an incident in Illinois that claimed the life of one worker and caused serious injuries to a co-worker. This appears to be one of the many preventable construction accidents that claim workers' lives each year. According to a police report, emergency services were called to a construction site in Evanston on a Tuesday morning earlier this month.

Police and firefighters rushed to the building site where a nine-story apartment complex is under construction. The only available information about the circumstances of the accident is that the two workers were unloading a steel column from a truck with the help of a crane. For unknown reasons, the steel beams moved out of position and dropped onto the two workers below.

Workers in construction zones in Illinois and other states will always be vulnerable. Too many lives are lost due to third-party negligence when motorists fail to take due care as they travel through work zones. The accidents continue to happen despite calls by authorities for drivers to slow down when they encounter road construction zones.

A 61-year-old worker lost his life in such an accident earlier this month. According to the Illinois State Police, a car struck a construction worker who was part of a crew working on the Tri-State Tollway. A crash report indicates that a driver who was traveling through the work zone failed to maintain control of his car and crossed into a closed-off construction area.

Employees in warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers in Illinois face various safety risks. Although every employer is expected to address all recognized hazards that could cause a workplace injury, workers' compensation benefits claims from warehouse workers are prevalent. Minimizing ergonomic risks factors can prevent musculoskeletal injuries caused by repeatedly twisting, bending, stretching and lifting -- often in awkward body postures.

The materials used for wheels on carts and trolleys, and the material used for floors, can cause vibrations and noise that could be damaging to workers who are exposed to it for many hours every day. Employers can prevent many injuries by upgrading equipment to limit the need for physical materials handling. Forklifts and conveyor belts can restrict the injury risks significantly. Providing workers with protective equipment such as gloves, safety boots, helmets, eye protection and more could also minimize injuries.