If you live in Chicago, you don’t have to look far to find buildings and job sites with long histories. Unfortunately, some of these older structures carry an unwelcome legacy: asbestos.

For decades, workers across the city, from union laborers on the South Side to electricians rehabbing century-old homes in Lincoln Park, were exposed without ever being told what was at stake. And when someone develops mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, the financial fallout can hit as hard as the diagnosis itself.

This is where asbestos trust funds can help those affected. They compensate people harmed by asbestos exposure when the companies responsible have gone bankrupt. Here is what you need to know about how asbestos trust funds work to make the system less intimidating for you.

Big trucks are a necessary part of modern-day life. It can be a little scary to drive near large automobiles like 18-wheelers, though. These vehicles weigh significantly more than standard passenger cars and can cause a lot of damage in a truck accident.

For the time being, tractor-trailers are still a staple feature of most interstates, so just how many truck drivers are in Illinois alone?

Schweickert, Ganassin, Krzak Rundio, LLP is pleased to announce that Partner, Michael S. Krzak has been recognized in the 26th Edition of The Best Lawyers In America by his peers for his exceptional work in the practice of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. This is the third consecutive year that Michael has received this honor.

“Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 8.2 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. Our founding principle remains unchanged since 1983 and forms the basis of our transparent methodology: The best lawyers know who the best lawyers are.”

Here’s why every loading dock should have a truck restraint:

The average forklift weighs 9,000 pounds, three times that of a car. Failing to prioritize safety can kill dock workers if at a busy warehouse the truck disengages from the dock and the forklift tumbles into the gap.

Vehicle restraint can prevent injuries on loading docks by securing trucks to docks and is among the safety features recommended by EHS Today, an occupational safety and health magazine.

Operating power tools and other heavy equipment can gradually cause wear and tear on the body. Illinois construction workers — as well as those who work in various other industries — know this too well. Whole-body vibrations from operating equipment can lead to a multitude of health problems, especially to the hands and limbs.

A Safety + Health Magazine article scrutinizes one of the most common health problems, known as hand-arm vibration syndrome. This condition is defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as “a collective term for vibration-induced neurological, vascular and musculoskeletal disorders in the hand-arm system.”

About 3:30 p.m. on April 27 on Mercer Street in Seattle:

• 19-year-old Sarah Wong and 71-year-old Alan Justad were sitting in their cars in traffic.
• Nine stories over their heads, ironworkers Andrew Yoder, 31, and Travis Corbet, 33, were dismantling a crane.
• All four were killed when the crane collapsed. Another four people on the street were injured.

The human body is a truly incredible feat of nature. We are able to lift large amounts of weight repeatedly and are able to build up our endurance to the point where we can do this over extended periods of time.

The human body isn’t invincible, however. If we do not exercise proper technique and posture when performing physical activities, the human body can break down over time, leading to injuries and health problems that can shorten our quality of life.

For people who work in manufacturing, sitting at a workstation for many hours at a time, good posture is of the utmost importance.

Shame and fear of being judged make many Americans less likely to take off time from work for mental health issues than for physical ailments, a Harris Poll survey said.

Those who work in construction, manufacturing, and other industrial sectors often operate or work around heavy mobile equipment, such as forklifts and cranes.

Accidents involving large equipment can be prevented by inspecting and fixing mechanical defects, practicing safety measures when operating the machinery, and ensuring that equipment is completely turned off when not in use.

Some occupations require strenuous physical movements: lifting, pushing, pulling, and reaching. If you work in construction, manufacturing, or landscaping, exertion may simply be part of your job. In other occupations that require only some physical movements, workers may overexert themselves to get ahead or move up.

While many employees strive to be safe at work, little consideration is often given to their physical well-being. In fact, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), overexertion is responsible for 35 percent of all work-related injuries and the culprit behind the majority of workers’ compensation claims.