Regional Emphasis Program focuses on vehicle struck-bys

Kansas City, MO – Noting that more than one-third of all incident investigations in four Midwest states involve vehicle-related struck-by fatalities, OSHA has established a Regional Emphasis Program to help reduce the number of these incidents.

Effective Oct. 1, the REP covers OSHA Region 7, which encompasses Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. In those four states, 36 percent of all OSHA investigations from fiscal year 2011 to 2013 involved vehicle struck-by fatalities.

“Fatalities occurring from vehicles striking workers are senseless and preventable,” Marcia Drumm, acting regional administrator of OSHA in Kansas City, said in a press release. “This REP allows OSHA inspectors to evaluate compliance with associated standards when conducting all inspections and focus on these real dangers.”

The program targets hazards associated with material handling and personnel handling motorized equipment, including powered industrial trucks, cranes and aerial lifts. OSHA said it will evaluate whether employers are following vehicle-related standards during all inspections in the region, and will follow up on complaints.

Previously, four area offices in Region 7 conducted a Local Emphasis Program on struck-bys. The new regional program expires Sept. 30, 2015, but can be extended.