When a dog or other animal bites a person, the worry is not solely the severity of the bite itself. Another concern is the potential for infection. When the animal’s teeth pierce the skin, bacteria can enter the body. Medical News Today explains that in some cases, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body. […]
Knowing when to record workplace injuries on OSHA’s Form 300
Employers across Illinois may find it hard to determine when a workplace injury or illness is meant to be recorded on OSHA’s Form 300. OSHA has specific rules on record keeping, and though there are admittedly gray areas, it expects compliance, as a failure to comply can lead to stiff penalties. This is where XpertHR […]
Older workers more likely to suffer fatal injuries
Older workers in Chicago and across the United States are at higher risk for fatal on-the-job injuries, according to a recent analysis by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report was published in the BLS Monthly Labor Review in January. BLS researchers used data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program to […]
How to properly handle an insurance claim after an accident
Car accidents are very stressful experiences that can challenge even the most veteran driver. Between the accident, damage to the vehicle and any sustained injuries, many people fail to file an insurance claim properly. Insurance policies contain a lot of complex legal phrasing that can frustrate policyholders. This confusion causes many people file incomplete or false […]
Chemical hygiene plan creates road map for lab worker safety
People throughout Illinois work in academic, research and commercial laboratories. These work environments encompass many types of hazards, such as exposure to hazardous biological or chemical substances and radiation. Physical hazards are present in instrument rooms, chemical storage rooms, loading docks and waste processing areas. Musculoskeletal injuries can be a concern as well. Due to […]
How companies can guard against falls
According to OSHA, companies in Illinois and throughout the country struggle to prevent fall injuries and deaths. Annually, companies lose $70 billion to medical and workers’ compensation costs associated with falls in the workplace. Losing workers to fall injuries can also result in higher labor costs as well as lower workplace morale. However, there are […]
Construction workers and scaffolding: Accidents waiting to happen
Scaffolds, those necessary structures on virtually all construction sites, nevertheless pose a continuing safety hazard for you as a construction worker. Unfortunately, scaffolding injuries, many of them fatal, abound in the construction industry. Per the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 72% of construction workers who survived their scaffolding injuries report that one […]
IIHS on the link between phone use and distracted driving
Drivers in Illinois should know that distracted driving is behind an increasing number of crashes. Strictly speaking, anything that takes a driver’s attention from the road is a distraction. This can include eating, drinking, looking at billboards and adjusting the radio. One of the most distracting activities, though, is phone use. Manipulating a phone, such […]
Safety tips for working around electrical equipment
At the workplace, safety is always an issue. But safety around electrical equipment is of particular importance. Every year, around 1,000 people are killed in accidents involving electricity. Even relatively low voltages can be dangerous. Over half of these deaths occur in cases where the voltage was under 600 V, even 50 V can prove […]
Five factors that contribute to most truck crashes
Truck accidents are not uncommon in Illinois, and whenever passenger vehicles are involved, there will likely be serious injuries. There are five common causes of truck accidents, starting with driver error. It should be kept in mind that the majority of crashes between truckers and passenger vehicle drivers are the fault of the latter. Speeding, […]