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Nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries held steady in 2018, marking the first time since 2009 that they did not decline, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Private employers reported 900,380 occupational injuries or illnesses that caused a worker to miss a day of work in 2018, and 2.8 instances of occupational illnesses or injuries per 100 full-time equivalent workers…

A worker claims his employment was terminated after he made a claim for workers' compensation benefits. Lyle Tonnon, who currently lives in Green Bay, Wisc., filed suit Sept. 30 against Belleville company Royalty Tech following his termination on Feb. 27, a week after he suffered a workplace injury. Tonnon is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, plus other amounts including…

Workers compensation benefits paid to injured workers continue to decline, although covered employment and wages have continued to rise, according to study released Thursday by the National Academy of Social Insurance. In 2017, $62 billion in workers compensation benefits were paid, but medical benefits declined nearly 20% between 2013 and 2017 and cash benefits declined just under 17% in this…

An employee of a St. Clair County company alleges he was fired unlawfully after being injured at work and applying for benefits. Arlando V. Lusk filed suit Sept. 26 against Cardinal Pump Company in St. Clair County Circuit Court, alleging violations of the Workers' Compensation Act along and "willful and wanton" conduct. Cardinal Pump, which distributes pumps, did not immediately…

Medical payments for workers compensation claims grew in several states between 2012 and 2017, but legislative changes in some states have reduced comp payments, according to studies released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WCRI examined trends in payments, prices and utilization of medical care for injured workers in 18 states, representing more than 60% of…