Kansas City Workers' Compensation Law Blog

In 2010, a beloved husband, father and community member was killed in a preventable work accident. As a mechanic for an open-mining operation, he was often in his work truck. Unfortunately, he was in his parked vehicle when a large haul truck ran over top of it, crushing him. Missouri is home to several mining companies and any efforts to improve workplace safety would benefit workers here and elsewhere.

Since 1998, the Mining Safety and Health Administration has mulled regulations that would require heavy machinery to include collision prevention warning systems. Vehicles such as the 240-ton haul trucks cost upwards of $1 million and can be operated for decades. This high cost makes most companies reluctant to replace them for newer vehicles with advanced technology. The problem with these machines is an extensive blind spot that can lead to serious crashes due to a driver's inability to see obstacles in the vehicle's path.

No matter the occupational field, there are always dangers that employers must be aware of in order to ensure the safety of employees. In the event of a serious accident, inspectors from OSHA will likely conduct an inspection to determine whether there were any safety violations that contributed to the accident. Missouri workers who are concerned about the safety of their workspace can report suspected violations.

Officials with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently published its list of most common safety violations. One of the top areas of concern are those pertaining to falls. Employers are required to provide all required safety measures as well as employee training to prevent the risk of a serious injury. OSHA also mandates that companies post an updated hazardous products list in those work spaces where they apply. Workers should all be informed of the protocols when handling any potentially dangerous chemicals.

Companies seek to provide a quality product or service for its customers. In furtherance of that goal, they are required to provide employees with a safe working environment. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formed in order to ensure that employers meet safety regulations, and OSHA has the authority to issue citations and impose fines when a company violates those standards. Missouri workers are entitled to work in an environment that protects them from harm.

Recently, OSHA released its findings of a follow-up inspection concerning a tire manufacturing plant. The company opened in 2016 and was found to be in violation of several safety regulations after an inspection in 2017. After receiving no response from company officials concerning a correction plan, OSHA inspectors returned for a follow-up visit beginning last November. The federal agency imposed fines in excess of $500,000 for approximately 21 serious violations, the majority of which involved the same areas of concern from the previous report.

During times of tension between nations, production of weapon stockpiles increases. In many communities, new production plants meant increased employment opportunities and an economic boom. Unfortunately, workers of one Missouri plant discovered that they faced a higher probability of suffering a work-related illness.

The Kansas City Plant has been home to several different companies since its beginnings in the 1940s. At one time, it housed companies engaged in producing plane parts for the military. Over time, it was expanded and came under the control of the Department of Energy, (DOE), the National Nuclear Security Administration and the General Services Administration, (GSA), which contracted for production of electrical parts to be used in nuclear weapons. The plant quickly became one of the major employment providers, but employees were not informed about the dangers of exposure to toxic materials.