the american society of safety engineers |
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NewsAction is Urged to Cut Kansas City's Workers' Compensation CostsBy Lynn Horsley Lacerations, burns, strained backs and other injuries plague Kansas City municipal employees at a higher rate than in other comparable cities — costing scarce taxpayer dollars in tight budget times. Kansas City has averaged about 1,200 workers’ compensation claims annually in recent years — about 100 cases a month — and suffered losses of up to $2 million more per year than it should for a city its size, said Eric Hallerud, who last year was hired as Kansas City’s corporate safety manager. There are proven safety programs that could protect workers and save the city money, but here’s the catch: To save a lot of money in the future, the city needs to spend a little money now. And that may not be possible with a budget that already faces a $62 million shortfall. The city must move forward now, Hallerud and others say. Heart of America Chapter Meeting Minutes
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