In Action

ILLINOIS INJURY PREVENTION CENTER IN ACTION

Developed a Policy Report on Protecting Temporary Staffing Workers, 2023

The report describes employment data, injury risks and policies to help better protect temporary staffing workers in Illinois and the U.S.  The report has been shared with policymakers at the national and state level to help prioritize policy needs for temp workers across the U.S.  Read more here.

Assisted OSHA with Developing new Local Emphasis Program, 2022

IOSP researchers collaborated with OSHA area 5 staff on developing a new local emphasis program aimed at protecting food manufacturing workers.  Workers in the food manufacturing sector in Illinois experience a substantially higher risk of serious traumatic injuries.  Read more here.

COVID Related Workers' Compensation Claims, 2022

Dr. Forst presented to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission on the current extent of COVID related Workers' Compensation Claims filed with the commission through the first 2 years of the pandemic.

Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance, 2021

Our team organized a special session on occupational injuries for the 2021 Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Conference.  Three speakers from our team discussed precarious work, low wage workers and workplace violence.  We remain active with CSTE occupational health workgroup.

Pesticide Exposure Safety Training of Farm Workers, 2021

We convened Community Health Workers from Community Health Partnership for 1 whole-day and 1 half-day session to train them on PRI and risk communication with farmworkesr and farm owners.  Eight individuals have completed an EPA-approved course to become certified trainers under the Worker Protection Standard. (CHP is a 6-clinic system that specifically reaches out to migrant and seasonal farmworkers).

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Latino Workers, 2021

In collaboration with Chicago Workers’ Collaborative (CWC), the Illinois Occupational Surveillance Program provided funding for 39 POD (point-of-dispensing) events and 392 promotional events in English and Spanish. 62,778 communication materials were distributed at these events - Phone calls, flyers, brochures, FAQs, social media posts.  20,926 resources were distributed which included Hand soap, face masks (surgical and KN95), disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer (winter PPE kits included scarves, winter gloves, or socks). Vaccination goal was exceeded by 300%.

Intergovernmental Pesticide Safety Consortium, 2020

A group of representatives of federal and state agencies, as well as community based organizations and 2 universities, came together just when the pandemic began, in Spring of 2020, with one statewide meeting in Springfield at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The consortium discussed regulatory issues relating to monitoring pesticide exposures in Illinois farm workers.

OSHA Temporary Worker Safety Seminar

Dr. Linda Forst presented at the OSHA Temporary Worker Safety Seminar on October 24 in Joliet, Illinois. The workshop focused on the responsibility and liability for temporary workers' safety, workers compensation and temporary workers, the Illinois Temporary Labor Services Act, and the requirements for day-to-day supervision of temporary workers. Dr. Forst's presentation focused on preventing injuries in the temporary staffing industry.

 View the presentation.

Policy Brief: Workers' Compensation Should Protect the Illinois Workforce

Illinois workers' compensation laws allow employees injured on the job to obtain medical care, wage replacement, and disability benefits. But the high cost is a hot-button issue for Illinois governors, legislators, businesses, and voters. We need a review of the Illinois Workers' Compensation System to maximize our potential to prevent injuries and reduce costs. The Governor's Office should establish a panel of experts to evaluate Illinois Workers' Compensation to reduce workplace injuries and mitigate health, social, and economic costs. Read more about what Illinois can do to improve workers' compenstation in the latest policy brief. 

Read the report.

Toward the Creation of a Public Health Surveillance System for Pesticide Related Illness/Injury in Illinois

Pesticide exposure, at work and at home, poses a significant risk to the health of people in Illinois. Every year, there are cases in which people become ill, even die, due to pesticide toxicity. Public Health Surveillance is the capture, analysis and dissemination of health information to focus preventive efforts. In the US, case ascertainment of Pesticide Related Illness/Injury (PRI) differs by state; the program in Illinois is extremely limited. The aim of this project was to investigate practices among the states to inform best practices and to align recommendations for an enhanced PRI Public Health Surveillance program aligned with Illinois statute.

 Read the report.

City Council Testimony

On October 23, 2018, Dr. Linda Forst testified in front of a city council committee in support of an ordinance that would create an Office of Labor Standards in Chicago. The ordinance, which subsequently passed in the Chicago City Council, establishes an office that enforces laws Chicago's ordinances on Minimum Wage and Mandatory Sick Leave. Dr. Forst discussed the benefits paid sick days and a higher minimum wage would have on public health.

Temp Workers, Lack of Training, and Resulting Harm

Our Advisory Board Director, Dr. Linda Forst, was interviewed by ProPublica in an article discussing the higher rates of job related injuries for temporary workers.  Read the article.