Illinois Workers Compensation Blog

100-year anniversary of the Cherry Coal Mine Disaster

AdamH — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:18:59 +0000

On November 13, 1909, 259 coal miners were killed in a mining disaster in Cherry, IL. This catastrophic event, 100 years ago, led to improved safety regulations and the modern Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The Chicago Tribune ran this story on the Centennial Anniversary. More information on the disaster can be found at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library website, and on Wikipedia.

Employers and Workers Habitually Underreport Work-Related Accidents

AdamH — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:08:09 +0000

“Employers and workers routinely underreport work-related injuries and illnesses, calling into question the accuracy of nationwide data [compiled annually by OSHA].”– Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, November 16, 2009.

Read the Full Article here

Female Hotel Workers Injured More Frequently than their Male Counterparts

AdamH — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04:07 +0000

“A new study of workers at 50 hotels in the United States found that women were 50 percent more likely to be injured than men, and that Hispanic women had an injury rate two-thirds higher than their white female counterparts.” — Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, November 10, 2009

Read the full article here…

Study: Low Wage Workers Cheated Out of Wages & Pressured Into Not Filing Workers’ Compensation Claims

AdamH — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:10:16 +0000

A recent study of low wage workers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles found that low wage workers were frequently cheated out of regular and/or overtime wages.

Further, the New York Times reported that “the researchers said one of the most surprising findings was how successful low-wage employers were in pressuring workers not to file for workers’ compensation. Only 8 percent of those who suffered serious injuries on the job filed for compensation to pay for medical care and missed days at work stemming from those injuries.”

Labor Day Events!

AdamH — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:16:20 +0000

Labor Day event in historic Pullman.

Labor Day March for Justice from Union Park (1501 W. Randolph in Chicago) to Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago.

Wyoming Contemplates New Safety Measures

AdamH — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:08:03 +0000

Lawmakers in Wyoming are debating the measures necessary to decrease the high number of worker deaths within Wyoming’s borders. The full article can be read here.

Teamsters Strike at SK Hand Tools in Chicago and McCook!

AdamH — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:06:08 +0000

Teamsters Local 743 set up a strike line at SK Hand Tools in Chicago (3535 W. 47^th St.) and McCook (9500 W. 55^th St.) on August 25, 2009. SK Hand Tools unilaterally withdrew health insurance coverage and demanded wage concessions that barely put members above the minimum wage.

Strike support will be needed on a 24/7 basis at both locations – please contact the Teamsters Local 743 union hall at (773) 254-7460 for more information.

2 Chicago Workers Injured in Explosion at Vegetable Oil Plant

AdamH — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:28:05 +0000

Two workers at the Columbus Food Co. on Chicago’s west side were injured on July 18, 2009, when an explosion occurred inside the vegetable oil plant.

Read the article here.

Explosion at Copper Tubing Plant leads to a Fatality

AdamH — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:24:50 +0000

An explosion at the Mueller Copper Tube Facility in Fulton , Mississippi on July 30, 2009, resulted in a fatality. It was third fatality at the plant since 2008.

Mueller Industries has a history of safety violations.

Alexandra Berzon shines a light on Construction-Related Worker Deaths in Las Vegas

AdamH — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Development of the Las Vegas Strip resulted in safety regulations becoming a secondary concern. Lax enforcement of safety regulations at construction sites in Las Vegas led to 12 workers deaths in 18 months. Alexandra Berzon reported on the circumstances surrounding these tragedies. Her reporting led to increased enforcement by safety agencies and no worker deaths since June 2008. For her reporting at the Las Vegas Sun, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

You can read the entire series here.