Union Electrician awarded benefits by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission awarded benefits to an electrician employed by Galaxy Enterprises. The employee a 59 year old union electrician worked for Galaxy for 30 years.
On October 4, 2005, the employee was working on a job site located in Chicago when he and his co-workers were unloading a van containing construction materials. After carrying the construction materials to the second floor of the site, the employee was installing conduit when he started to feel pain in his low back. The pain was radiating down his right. He continued to work in discomfort for the rest of the day.
The employee was subsequently diagnosed with a herniated disk which developed from the repetitive nature of unloading the construction materials and bending to install piping.
The employer’s examining doctor opined that the employee’s pain was a result of his ongoing degenerative disk disease. However, the Arbitrator, after reviewing the employee’ MRI, found that the inflammation present suggested a newer injury an acute problem.
The Arbitrator awarded the employee compensation for his back injury. The employee was able to return to work and worked for his employer until he retired in January of 2008.
The employee was represented by Attorney Adam J. Scholl, Donald W. Fohrman & Associates, Ltd.
