Kansas City Workers' Compensation Law Blog

When one hears of an accident at a construction site, it may prompt images of a fall or machinery malfunction. Unfortunately, there are many hazards on the site of a construction job -- many of which could be prevented. When a Missouri resident is injured in a work accident, the consequences may include physical injury along with significant financial difficulties.

A construction site was recently shut down after a security guard and a worker were involved in an accident. According to the report, a glass panel that was to be installed was sitting on a loading dock. For reasons that are yet unclear, the panel, described as being approximately 8-by-14 feet, tipped over and landed on a 67-year-old security guard. A 27-year-old construction worker on the site was also injured.

Those who work around chemicals as part of their profession require careful training in proper use and disposal of such materials. In the event that there is a serious mishap, the consequences can prove to be dangerous for Missouri employees and other individuals. When an accident occurs at a workplace, OSHA will likely conduct a thorough review of the causes.

Recently, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration completed its investigation of a serious fire at a chemical plant that injured about a dozen firefighters. Shortly after the blaze, it was determined that it was caused when a worker mixed identified chemicals together in an attempt to dispose of them. Somehow, this touched off a fire that quickly grew out of control. During the course of battling the blaze, it was estimated that more than 12 emergency responders suffered injuries severe enough to require treatment at local hospitals.

According to statistics from 2015, the Bureau of Labor calculated that approximately 4,836 workers were killed on the job that year. On top of that figure, an estimated 2,905,900 employees suffered reportable injuries. While Missouri is not one of the states that currently mandate having a workplace safety plan in effect, it does encourage employers to develop these often critical plans.

Often referred to as an IIPP, an Injury and Illness Prevention Program allows employers to develop plans that can ensure that both workers and employers are protected from the risk of injury and the cost to both treat a work-related injury and lost productively when an accident or illness occurs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has long recommended that all states create an effective plan for each workplace in order to protect employees from an often preventable accident. While there is no one plan that can be applied to every work site, there are general guidelines that can be adapted to fit each unique company's needs.

Any workplace can contain hidden hazards regardless of the type of business. In spite of the diligence that workers may practice, a lack of clear safety plans can result in injuries for employees for which OSHA may levy fines and issue citations. While every Missouri workplace must comply with set regulations, there is still the possibility that an accident can occur without warning.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced that it had reached a settlement agreement with an automobile auction house where a fatal accident had occurred last May. The federal agency conducted a thorough review of the tragedy. Afterwards, it cited the business for several safety violations and levied fines that totaled approximately $267,000. The company contested the fines, and an agreement was reached that will require it to pay $200,000 and correct the issues that lead up to the fatal incident.