Business owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of the sidewalks that abut their business and may be liable for injuries resulting from a slippery sidewalk. Chicago requires property owners to shovel snow and remove ice on sidewalks that abut their properties. Snow Removal Laws in Chicago Pursuant to Municipal Code of Chicago, property owners and occupants are required to shovel the snow and remove the ice in front of their buildings. The law requires anyone who owns or occupies a building that abuts a public way (i.e. sidewalk) to remove snow and ice. The law requires occupants to clear […]
Relying on PEL’s can cause serious injuries or death to workers. Permissible exposure limits (i.e. PELs) refers to the amount of exposure workers can endure before they suffer adverse health consequences. There are PELs for a variety of compound, chemicals, substances, and radiations. According to the government, workers can be exposed to acceptable amounts of these substances and they won’t suffer adverse health consequences. However, this position is controversial within many industries. Background on PELs PELs were first established in 1971 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), the year of OSHA’s founding. The original PELs were criticized because […]
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) administers several programs, including Compassionate Allowances, which allows the SSA to fast-track applications for disability insurance benefits if certain conditions are met. Disability provides payments to individuals who are limited or unable to work because of a permanent or semi-permanent condition. Ordinarily, the application process can take months or even years. However, for certain conditions, the SSA will provide fast-tracked approval. Compassionate Allowances Explained Compassionate Allowances is a program that allows individuals afflicted with certain conditions, such as adult brain disorders, certain cancers, and a few rare disorders that affect children, to fast-track their disability […]
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (“CPSIA”) forbids consumers from reselling products that have been recalled and resellers can be held liable for the damages these products cause. The CPSIA includes both commercial resellers, such as the Goodwill or Salvation Army, and garage sales, consignments, Etsy stores, and eBay businesses. What does the CPSIA restrict? The CPSIA makes it illegal to sell any product that has been recalled. The Act broadly defines “product” to include anything that is found in or around a school, home, or recreational setting including rugs, curtains, furniture, jewelry, toys, electronics, sports equipment, and […]
A team approach to safety that provides adequate personnel, resources, and employee training has been shown to reduce or eliminate work-related injuries and deaths. Without a team-oriented safety awareness program, employers may be liable for workplace injuries suffered by employees. The Team Approach Increases Safety Employee involvement in safety training and awareness is an essential component of a workplace safety plan. Equally important is the safety team that leads and oversees the safety program. This team approach provides safety leadership and increases employee awareness and compliance with safety standards. Safety Team Leadership Engagement in the safety process by workers across all levels of an organization is essential to reducing […]
Qualified dependents of workers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are also entitled to a benefit amount. SSDI rules limit the amount payable to a family, but understanding the rules can ensure that dependents receive the maximum amount allowable, boosting a family’s total benefit. A Significant Increase In 2017, more than 10 million disabled workers and their dependents claimed benefits under the SSDI program. The average SSDI benefit amount was about $1,100 a month. By including eligible dependents, recipients can significantly increase the amounts paid to their family. Boost Disability Payments to the Maximum SSDI benefits are based on […]
There are many types of burns that can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement, or even death. When severe burn injuries are caused by the negligence of someone else, the degree of the burn, its location on the body, and the type of burn injury help to determine damages in a personal injury case. Thermal burns Thermal burns often result from explosions or direct contact with flame or hot objects such as irons, cooking pans, and heated appliances. The severity of injury depends on the temperature of the heat source and the length of exposure. Chemical burns Most common in the workplace, […]
Young workers who take foolish risks at work and new workers who lack experience increase the likelihood of workplace injuries to themselves and others. A young worker refers to anyone under the age of 25. A new worker is a person of any age who has little experience working at their current job. What makes young and new workers risky? It is understandable that anyone lacking on-the-job experience is going to be less adept at a job than workers who have spent many hours in the workplace. Just being unfamiliar with the work environment puts new workers and visitors to […]
Problems with concentration, persistence, and pace that affect an individual’s ability to work may be grounds for a disability claim. When considering whether or not to approve disability claims from workers with mental impairments, the Social Security Administration looks at concentration, persistence and pace and how they impact applicants’ ability to work. These factors are sometimes hard to understand, as they are not as easily defined as physical disabilities. Understanding the impact of concentration, persistence, and pace on disability claims will help those with mental impairments make more effective disability claims. Defining Concentration, Persistence, and Pace According to the Social […]
When hunting seasons open in Illinois, emergency rooms prepare for a wide range of surprising injuries from animal attacks, defective hunting equipment like guns, knives, tree stands and bows, and from overexertion. Preparing for hunting season, even in the spring when turkeys and coyotes are the animals of choice rather than deer, means understanding these risks. Five surprising hunting risks that Illinois hunters should watch for include: Injuries from Tree Stands Whitetail deer remains one of the most popular game animals in the country. Hunters utilize tree stands to get better visibility when hunting deer. These stands sit 20 to […]
