OSHA continues focus on protecting workers from struck-by vehicle hazards at job sites in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Just before Thanksgiving, a waste hauling truck struck and killed a 47-year-old worker in a construction work zone near Higginsville. Since 2012, he was one of 35 workers in three Midwestern states that federal safety and health inspectors determined whose death resulted from fatal struck-by vehicle hazards.

To address the issue, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its Regional Emphasis Program in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, to increase industry outreach and inspections to reduce worker injury and illness rates involving vehicles, powered industrial trucks, and motorized equipment in construction, general industry and maritime.

In 2014, more than 198 workers died in fatal struck-by vehicle incidents nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

“Struck-by vehicle fatalities and injuries are 100 percent preventable. Yet, since 2012, of all fatalities OSHA has investigated in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, 20 percent have involved struck-by vehicle hazards,” said Marcia Drumm, regional administrator for OSHA. “Employers must do more to prevent these tragedies including evaluating their workplaces to identify and eliminate hazards, and training employees to recognize hazardous conditions.”

Employers are encouraged to visit the Construction Struck-by eTool for strategies to prevent such incidents in construction.  Educational materials in both English and Spanish titled, “Evaluate Your Entire Surroundings,” or E.Y.E.S., are available from local OSHA offices. Electronic materials include a fact sheet with incident data and prevention strategies; a brochure that covers risk assessment steps, common operator errors and safety tips; and as a program poster.

OSHA regional and local emphasis programs are enforcement strategies designed to address high-risk industries; The programs include education and prevention outreach activities to share safety and health information with employers, associations and workers. This emphasis program ends Sept. 30, 2016, unless extended. OSHA area offices will continue to open inspections in response to complaints, hospitalizations and fatalities.

For additional information on this initiative and copies of the E.Y.E.S. materials contact the duty officer or compliance assistance specialist in OSHA’s offices in St. Louis, Missouri at 314-425-4249; Wichita, Kansas at 316-269-6644; Kansas City, Missouri  at 816-502-0297 or Omaha, Nebraska at 402-553-0171.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742). Additional information related to the emphasis program is available by contacting OSHA’s Kansas City Regional Office at 816-283-8745.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.