It could be a David versus Goliath legal battle. A longtime political gadfly and a city worker are suing Mayor Rahm Emanuel and powerful Ald. Ed Burke in federal court. Burke, the longtime Finance Committee chairman, controls the city’s controversial and obscure $100 million workers’ compensation program, which has come under scrutiny for years. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit contend…
The Illinois Policy Institute says that the city of Belleville, Illinois, has spent $420,000 settling workers’ compensation claims by employees this year, with much of that money going to workers who returned to their jobs the day after the injury. The Policy Institute, which advocates for more business friendly public policies, reported that Belleville pays for workers’ compensation settlements of…
Who decides what to pay city staffers after on-the-job injuries? It’s the Finance Committee of the City Council. And, as virtually everyone knows, it shouldn’t be. Pop quiz: Who manages the annual expenditure of more than $100 million to approve and compensate city workers for on-the-job injuries? Is it the head of human resources? Nope. Maybe the city’s top lawyer?…
Summer job season is in full swing, with the influx of younger workers creating workplace safety challenges for employers. Broadly speaking, workers between the ages of 14 and 24 are likely to injure themselves on the job because of their inexperience as well as their physical, cognitive and emotional developmental characteristics, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration….
U.S. workplace safety regulators have cited an Illinois-based cardboard box manufacturer for exposing employees to unprotected machinery and amputation hazards and have proposed penalties of $66,612. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Packaging Corp. of America for failing to provide written procedures to control the release of hazardous energy, exposing employees to struck-by, caught-in and amputation hazards, and…
A federal judge refused to dismiss a class-action lawsuit alleging insurance companies unlawfully withheld interest on payments for services provided through workers’ compensation. U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel of the Southern District of Illinois released her ruling on July 2. Dr. Michael Beatty of Edwardsville leads the class action against the various insurance companies, alleging violations of the Illinois…
The costly and controversial Illinois workers’ compensation system is on the verge of change after healthcare professionals urged amendments to senate bill 904 – the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) requested three changes to SB 904 in order to address what they call in official IHA documents…
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Manuel Gallardo, owner of Gallardo’s Construction Services, after inspectors observed employees exposed to fall hazards on six Chicago-area residential roofing projects between August and November 2017. The company faces $281,286 in proposed penalties. Manuel Gallardo, whose business is based in Palatine, was cited for four willful and three…
Federal safety officials have cited an Illinois pallet manufacturer for exposing employees unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the workplace. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $216,253. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Cleary Pallet Sales Inc., a Genoa, Illinois-based pallet manufacturer, after 10 employees required emergency medical treatment for carbon monoxide exposure. OSHA…
A Madison County couple who worked together sued Medline Industries Inc. on June 25 for retaliation and wrongful termination. Derek and Sharon Marshall filed the lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the warehouse operator alleging violations of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. According to the complaint, a supervisor “made repeated and continued sexual advances” toward Sharon during her…
