Fatalities, severe injuries at work may be on the rise The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is concerned that workers in South Carolina and around the country are sustaining on-the-job injuries that are not being reported. Starting in 2015, the agency has changed its reporting requirements. In the past, a prompt report was only required…
Continue reading ›Choosing the safest work boots When South Carolina workers are outfitted with appropriate gear, unnecessary injuries can sometimes be prevented. One of the most important clothing items for workers in the construction and manufacturing industries is safety footwear, or work boots. When selecting work boots, both employers and their employees should make sure that the…
Continue reading ›2014 final workplace fatalities higher than previously reported Employers and employees in South Carolina may be interested in learning that the workplace fatality rates for 2014 have now been updated. The numbers reflect changes to the 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. According to the final numbers, 4,821 people were killed in workplace accidents around…
Continue reading ›Campaign aims to raise awareness of electrical hazards South Carolina residents might be interested to know that May 2016 is National Electrical Safety Month. The annual campaign sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International is an effort to educate people about electrical safety and raise awareness of electrical hazards. The purpose of the ESFI is…
Continue reading ›OSHA investigates cellphone tower accident rates Many South Carolina residents would find it hard to imagine life without their cellphones, but they rarely pause to consider the dangers faced by construction workers who scale communications towers that sometimes soar several hundred feet into the air. The high fatality rate among these workers prompted the Occupational…
Continue reading ›People confused about safety of hands-free tech while driving Many South Carolina motorists have seen other drivers distracted by a cellphone, and they maybe have even done so themselves. In an attempt to address the known hazards of this behavior, automobile manufacturers have increasingly added hands-free media and communications centers to vehicles. Bans on cellphone…
Continue reading ›Brain injuries more prevalent for construction workers South Carolina residents who work in the construction industry or know someone who does are probably aware of the dangers involved in this type of occupation. One of them is the risk of traumatic brain injuries. According to a report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and…
Continue reading ›Workers’ comp insurers use social media to combat fraud South Carolina employees may not be aware that insurance companies routinely use surveillance and social media to investigate workers’ compensation claims. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, fraudulent claims cost insurers around $7.2 billion annually. Insurance experts say that several things may tip off an…
Continue reading ›Sleep apnea increases risk of workplace injury Sleep apnea affects millions of people across the United States, including many residents of South Carolina. Obstructive sleep apnea causes a person to wake up many times during the night when their airways become blocked. A Canadian study suggests this disruption of sleep may cause sufferers to be…
Continue reading ›Workplace injuries and case-shifting When South Carolina workers sustain injuries while engaged in the course and scope of their employment, many of them are eligible to receive compensation through their employers’ workers compensation insurance carriers. Some injuries are straightforward and easily traceable to a work accident, such as a fracture or puncture wound. Others, however,…
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