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Little over a month ago,  Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed a new bill into law initiating the secure exchange of electronic heath records in Illinois.  The Health Information Exchange and Technology Act creates  the necessary framework through which health care providers and insurance companies can electronically share health records.  While patients may fear that making [...]

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Several workers in northern Iowa were working to unclog a sewer line when one of the sewer workers was overcome by sewer gas and died. The work site was in North Sioux City, Iowa. It’s reported that the safety rules were not followed and the men were overcome by sewer gas while working to unplug the line. Confined space safety [...]

When you are injured at work in Iowa, it is unlikely your employer will permit you to choose which doctor you see.  The Iowa Workers’ Compensation system limits workers’ choice of medical care to treat occupational injuries.  In fact, with few exceptions your employer generally has the right to select and direct your medical care provided they [...]

A strike by laborers in the construction industry devastates progress for crucial projects and has widespread effects, from increased traffic which is the product of stalled roadwork, to businesses that rely on the timely completion of a project.  For almost three weeks now, construction workers on strike in Illinois have been holding out for better [...]

Any classic American occupation can conjure iconic images. Mentioning “construction work” reminds us of the Industrial Revolution, with capable men raising skyscrapers protected only by a pair of sturdy boots and a yellow hard hat. Every bridge, highway, and city skyline as we know it today was built through the efforts of these hard working [...]

It happens on the last Friday of every month. They meet in places like the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, under the Waterloo Bridge in London, and in the Chicago Loop. Bicycle riders from all over the world join to ride together in a group called Critical Mass. And kids, this is no ordinary [...]

Love the festivities that draw crowds to the city in the summer, but hate the traffic?  Get there smarter and faster-bike to avoid the wait in traffic.  There’s nothing like breezing past a long line of cars in the bike lane, but contrary to what you may think, bike lanes are not always safer than [...]

Be prepared for the boating season.�
Safety standards and licensing for boats deserve just as much attention as their on-land counter parts, but how many boaters are compliant and aware of these regulations?  To find out if you are up to date on boating safety and regulations, test your knowledge with a boating safety quiz [...]

This summer, as a response to the public interest in the controversy surrounding children being injured by balls hit off of metal bats, this blog explored the issue in “Do Aluminum Bats Create an Unnecessary Danger for our Children?”
It is clear that even as the summer months wane, the issue is still in the public [...]

With the recent development of tens of thousands of Chinese infants falling ill from milk powder that contained melamine, consumers might find it wise to keep an eye on candy products produced in China this Halloween.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled Sherwood Brand’s Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins, which were made in China, because [...]