On Oct. 20, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance released a report on the results of its annual 72-hour safety inspection campaign that took place in South Carolina and around the country in June. During the campaign, 21.5 percent of large trucks that were inspected were placed out of service because of safety violations as were more than 3 percent of the drivers.
Safety issues at construction sites
South Carolina workers who are in the construction industry likely know that theirs is one of the more dangerous occupations. Accidents are unfortunately all too common, and statistics show that 20 percent of all workplace fatalities take place on construction sites. Employers are required to provide notice to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration when accidents occur on the job, and thus the federal agency has data that breaks down the types of incidents that occur.
First six months of 2016 deadly
Traffic accidents take the lives of South Carolina residents each year, and 2016 is showing itself to be a particularly deadly year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 18,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents across the country from January to June of 2016, which was an increase of approximately 10 percent over the same six-month period in 2015.
DOL says federal intervention may be needed
Workers' compensation benefits have fallen in South Carolina and across the country, leading the Department of Labor to call for possible federal intervention in state workers' compensation systems. The agency wants to investigate whether or not federal intervention is appropriate after a number of states have passed laws that make it more difficult for injured workers to get benefits.
Health care workplace injury data
Health care facilities in South Carolina and across the nation are subject to regular inspection and interrogation for data that may be used by analysts and regulatory organizations. A report from the Aon Global Risk Consulting Firm has discovered complex patterns related to injuries and compensation payouts in the health care industry.
Combustible dust in South Carolina workplaces
In some manufacturing jobs, combustible dust is a serious problem. When some types of dust are dispersed in the air, they might explode, causing serious injuries that can be fatal. It is important for workplaces in South Carolina and around the country to take steps to prevent dust buildup in order to prevent these types of explosions.
