Accidents spur safety training plans for Cape Girardeau County workers

Three men working for the Cape Girardeau County highway department were injured on the job in October.

In October, one man hurt his back while lifting bales of straw; another tripped over a piece of equipment and fractured an elbow. A third was hit in the back by a branch being trimmed by another highway department worker. All three were treated and have returned to work, but highway administrator Scott Bechtold said they are on light-duty assignments.

Bechtold said he had not identified a safety training program but expected to find one later this month.

He said the recent accidents were probably preventable.

"The first thing that came to my mind is that they do need some training," said County Clerk Kara Clark. She and Bechtold said there is currently no regular safety training for the workers. Clark said the sheriff's department has its own safety training program.

Bechtold said his department typically records "two to three" accidents in any given year, "but that may be from bad poison ivy or a cut or dust in the face."

Clark said she made the recommendation for safety training because in her role as clerk, she is responsible for negotiating the annual insurance premium rates.

Bechtold was also involved in an accident this year, though he was not at fault. Bechtold was driving his county truck when another driver failed to stop and hit his truck. No one was injured in that accident, he said.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646