What do office cleaners, some factory workers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses and doctors have in common? They are all in jobs that involve shift work. Working nontraditional hours is par for the course for a significant percentage of...
Month: November 2017
Why head injuries are more dangerous for older workers
If you're an older employee -- particularly one in a job that involves physical labor -- a fall or other injury can be more serious than it might be for your co-workers who are decades younger. We all know that as we get older, a fall is more likely to result in...
How can nurses’ patient-handling injuries be reduced?
Doctors typically get the most respect -- and the most money -- of anyone working in a hospital or other health care setting. However, nurses are the ones who do much of the heavy lifting -- literally. That's one of the reasons they have more job-related injuries than...
New drug can reduce fatalities among brain injury patients
The earlier a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis typically is for the patient. A new study provides one more reason that addressing brain injuries within the first few hours of the injury can mean the difference between...
Illinois man wins over $3 million in suit against former employer
Illinois workers have rights under the law after suffering an injury on the job. When employers violate those rights, they can and should be held responsible. Last month, a man who was denied the ability to return to work at Dean Foods after a disabling injury...
Illinois employers must pay for personal protective equipment
Does your employer provide you with the necessary personal protective equipment to keep you safe in your work environment, or do you have to buy your own PPE? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates that your employer must protect you from known...
Hotel employees face a multitude of health and safety risks
People who work in hotels face a number of health and safety risks. The type of risk often depends on what kind of work they do.Those who work in housekeeping are prone to soft-tissue injuries like shoulder and back strains. These can be caused by flipping mattresses,...
Who pays workers’ comp after a merger?
When a company goes through a merger or sale, what happens to its employees who are receiving workers' compensation benefits? One Illinois truck driver found himself in the middle of a fight between two companies as well as its workers' comp insurers. To complicate...
New study looks at mental health disorders after head injuries
A head injury can do a lot more damage than what a person might be able to feel physically. It can cause serious mental health issues. According to a study that recently appeared in JAMA Psychiatry, approximately 20% of people who suffer even a mild traumatic brain...
What injuries most commonly plague commercial truck drivers?
Commercial truck drivers are in one of the most dangerous professions around. Of course, they face the risk of being involved in a serious accident during long hours on the road -- particularly here in Illinois where winter often brings treacherous road conditions....