Section 287.040

Title XVIII LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Chapter 287

Effective - 28 Aug 2005, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  287.040.  Liability of employer — contractors, subcontractors. — 1.  Any person who has work done under contract on or about his premises which is an operation of the usual business which he there carries on shall be deemed an employer and shall be liable under this chapter to such contractor, his subcontractors, and their employees, when injured or killed on or about the premises of the employer while doing work which is in the usual course of his business.

  2.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to the owner of premises upon which improvements are being erected, demolished, altered or repaired by an independent contractor but such independent contractor shall be deemed to be the employer of the employees of his subcontractors and their subcontractors when employed on or about the premises where the principal contractor is doing work.

  3.  In all cases mentioned in the preceding subsections, the immediate contractor or subcontractor shall be liable as an employer of the employees of his subcontractors.  All persons so liable may be made parties to the proceedings on the application of any party.  The liability of the immediate employer shall be primary, and that of the others secondary in their order, and any compensation paid by those secondarily liable may be recovered from those primarily liable, with attorney's fees and expenses of the suit.  Such recovery may be had on motion in the original proceedings.  No such employer shall be liable as in this section provided, if the employee was insured by his immediate or any intermediate employer.

  4.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to the relationship between a for-hire motor carrier operating within a commercial zone as defined in section 390.020 or 390.041 or operating under a certificate issued by the Missouri department of transportation or by the United States Department of Transportation, or any of its subagencies, and an owner, as defined in subdivision (42) of section 301.010, and operator of a motor vehicle.  

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(RSMo 1939 § 3698, A.L. 2005 S.B. 1 & 130)

Prior revision: 1929 § 3308

(1958) Filling station employee injured while working on his own private car during working hours held not to have suffered injury arising out of and in course of employment. Carriker v. Lindsey (A.), 313 S.W.2d 43.

(1960) Where comprehensive liability policy issued to employer stated that it did not provide coverage "to any employee with respect to injury to another employee of the same employer injured in the course of such employment in an accident arising out of the maintenance or use of the automobile in the business of such employer" it excluded coverage to statutory employee who was employed by an independent contractor to perform services on the premises of the employer.  Ward v. Curry (Mo.), 341 S.W.2d 830.

(1962) In personal injury action against steel company evidence presented question for jury as to whether plaintiff, driver of truck for contractor who provided delivery service for the steel company, was statutory employee of steel company.  Walton v. United States Steel Corp. (Mo.), 362 S.W.2d 617.

(1964) In view of sections 287.040 and 287.120 subcontractor's injured employee could not maintain common law action for damages against general contractor. Thompson v. Kroeger (Mo.), 380 S.W.2d 339.

(1965) "Premises", as used in this section contemplates any place, under exclusive control of employer, where employer's usual business is being carried on or conducted. Johnson v. Simpson Oil Co. (A.), 394 S.W.2d 91.

(1967) An organization engaged in the business of furnishing workmen to its customers, usually on a temporary basis, charging the customer and paying the furnished workmen was not an independent contractor within the meaning of this section.  Wright v. Habco, Inc. (Mo.), 419 S.W.2d 34.

(1972) As used in subdivision 1 of this section, the term "premises" is not restricted to the permanent site of the statutory employer's business nor limited to property owned or leased by him, but contemplates any place under the exclusive control of the statutory employer where his usual business is being carried on or conducted. Boatman v. Superior Outdoor Advertising Co. (A.), 482 S.W.2d 743.

(1974) Held evidence that carpenter remodeling a garage for brick manufacturer to be leased to a trucking company hauling bricks was not a statutory employee of either company.  Saale v. Alton Brick Company (A.), 508 S.W.2d 243.

(1976) To become a statutory employee three conditions must be met: 1. The work was performed under a contract; 2. The injury must have occurred on or about the premises of the employer; 3. The injury must have occurred while performing work normally done in the usual course of business of the employer.  Miller v. Municipal Theatre Ass'n of St. Louis (A.), 540 S.W.2d 899.

(1987)  Claimant who was injured while repairing the public address system for racetrack was not an employee under this section entitled to benefits since work performed was not done in furtherance of the usual operation of the racetrack.  Rouge v. St. Charles Speedway, 733 S.W.2d 854 (Mo. App.).

(2009) Question of status as to statutory employee is not a matter of subject matter jurisdiction subject to a motion to dismiss; issue may be waived if not timely raised as an affirmative defense. McCracken v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LLP, 298 S.W.3d 473 (Mo.banc).