Recent News – Smith & Griffith Legal Blog

The dangers of power lines at work sites South Carolina workers who are driving a tractor-trailer near surface power lines can take steps to increase their safety. In one instance, a tractor-trailer made contact with an overhead ground wire, and while there was damage, no one was injured. However, the Mine Safety and Health Administration…

Poultry processing is a hazardous job South Carolina poultry processing workers may be in one of the most hazardous occupations according to a report from the National Employment Law Project. Between January 2015 and September 2016, OSHA received reports on 180 severe injuries in poultry processing plants. This places poultry processing in 12th place in…

Updated silica regulation could improve workplace safety Some granular absorbents used in South Carolina workplaces may jeopardize employee health. To improve worker safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced a final rule concerning respirable crystalline silica. According to OSHA, the use of safer, more natural alternative materials could mitigate the danger posed by…

OSHA’s fall prevention campaign Many workplace fatalities for construction workers in South Carolina and the rest of the country are caused by falling. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration names the absence of sufficient fall protection as its most commonly cited violation. In order to combat the number of injuries and deaths related to falls,…

The increase in OSHA fine amounts Employers in South Carolina and the rest of the country can be fined if they fail to adhere to federal workplace standards. After overhauling its penalty structure, the United States Occupation Safety and Health Administration saw the average fine amounts assessed for serious workplace violations increase in 2016. The…

Stepladder safety in the workplace South Carolina workers who routinely use stepladders to perform their job duties should be aware of how to remain safe while using them. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety has provided some advice regarding the proper use of this type of equipment. Before using a stepladder, workers should…

Mine Safety Health Administration working to make mines safer While South Carolina contains very few coal reserves, the mining industry can be incredibly dangerous. As such, every person involved in the industry, from workers to CEO’s, should be concerned about health and safety to ensure that everyone gets to go home at the end of…

More trucks involved in fatal crashes According to federal government statistics, there was a significant increase in the number of large trucks involved in deadly crashes in 2015. The 2015 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicates that 4,050 large trucks, which are those that weigh more…

Learning about “Hazards Not Otherwise Classified” South Carolina employees who are required to work around hazardous materials have likely been trained to read hazard warning labels. Under the revised Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), however, employers are also required to identify hazards that are not necessarily covered by other classes as identified by the…

Dealing with distracted driving South Carolina motorists should be aware that distracted driving is just as dangerous as driving while drunk and that one-third of drivers engage in unsafe driving behavior. While April is Distracted Driving Month, it is important that people are mindful of the risks of distracted driving throughout the year. Every year,…