Each month, the National Safety Council (NSC) observes different safety campaigns to promote safety, responsibility, and well-being across the country. In March, it is officially National Ladder Safety Month, as presented by the American Ladder Institute. At McHargue & Jones, LLC, we are often called upon to help clients who have fallen off unsafe ladders,…
Understanding Occupational Illnesses Is your job making you sick? We are not talking about workplace frustrations like not enough pay for too much work. We’re talking about actual illnesses. Occupational illnesses are a serious concern for people in numerous jobs and industries. Each day at work, someone in such an industry might be exposed to…
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), November of 2020 was the fourth hottest November on record, which dates back to pre-1900. November 2021 is looking to compete with last year, too. Whether you live in California, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, or Massachusetts, you have probably noticed that working outside is getting warmer…
Not all jobs keep you behind a desk or counter, or even within a brick-and-mortar place of employment. Many people make a living by driving around their cities and counties each day, and we’re not talking just about truck drivers. The growing “gig economy” has allowed thousands and thousands of Americans to use their cars…
What Is a Seizure? A seizure is a medical condition caused by neurological damage or deficiencies. When an electrical impulse in the brain is unable to reach its intended destination or otherwise “misfires,” it can cause a seizure. Although many types of seizures are caused by identifiable seizures, a rare few are not, which means…
Most workers don’t want to get in trouble with their employer, even when they know that their employer is doing something wrong. Unfortunately, this type of thinking contributes to many unsafe workplaces around the country. The people who see something is unsafe are the same ones who are worried about reporting it. The conflict begs…
Repetitive stress injuries happen quietly. You don’t fall, slip, or get crushed by machinery — instead, your body breaks down from lifting, bending, typing, kneeling, scanning, pulling, twisting, or standing for years. Many Illinois workers aren’t sure whether these injuries qualify as workers’ comp claims. The answer is: often, yes — but the insurance company…
If you’re injured at work in Chicago, your employer or their insurance company may tell you that you must treat at a company clinic. Many injured workers are immediately sent to places like Concentra Medical Center or another employer-selected occupational health clinic. While these clinics are commonly used in workers’ compensation cases, Illinois law usually…
What are Five of the Most Common Types of Workers’ Comp Claims During the Holiday Season? The holiday season is the busiest of the year for many different industries and sectors. As workers struggle to keep up with increased client, customer, and consumer demands, the chances of suffering a work-related injury go up. For this reason,…
Construction workers are constantly reminded that their line of work is dangerous. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) releases a list of workplace accidents each year, and construction accidents frequently are at the top of that list in frequency and severity. Posters throughout a construction site also warn of the many dangers there and…
Did your employer refuse to report your work injury, change the story, or pressure you to say it happened at home? In Illinois, you may still have a valid workers’ compensation case. This guide explains what to do next — and how the workers’ comp lawyers at McHargue & Jones can protect your benefits with…
Workers’ compensation in Illinois covers workplace assaults when an employee is injured because of their job duties or work environment. This includes attacks by patients, inmates, students, customers, or members of the public. Injured workers may be entitled to medical treatment, wage replacement, permanent disability benefits, and—in severe cases—lifetime workers’ compensation benefits, even if no…
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act governs how the state handles workers’ compensation requirements and claims. Under this act, workers’ compensation is described as a method of providing employees with financial benefits to pay for necessary medical bills and sometimes provide a portion of their normal wages in case they get hurt while on-the-job. Unfortunately, this…
The Importance of Health and Safety in Retail Stores When most people think of hazardous jobs, retail roles generally do not make the list. Retail workers are just as likely as any other worker to be injured at their jobs and may be equally at risk for occupational accidents as workers in traditionally “dangerous” roles….
In most industries, people who are injured on the job have the option to file a claim with their employer and their employer’s insurance company in order to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is not available to all employees in the United States, including people who work in the railroad industry. Railroad workers have…
