Recent News – Smith & Griffith Legal Blog

Automatic braking technology could reduce crashes Rear-end auto accidents in South Carolina can occur for a number of reasons, including mechanical failure, distracted driving or a failure to apply enough pressure when braking. However, automatic braking features could reduce this type of accident significantly. Many of the nation’s major automobile manufacturers are expected to agree…

Preventing muscle injuries at the workplace Every day, employees in South Carolina and elsewhere suffer various types of musculoskeletal disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome, back injuries and sprains. However, with proper training, these types of injuries can be reduced, which benefits employees and their employers alike. When ergonomic principles are incorporated at the worksite, the…

Google car partly to blame for bus accident South Carolina drivers who are looking forward to driving a self-driving vehicle may be interested to learn that a Google car was partially responsible for causing a crash on Feb. 14. No one was injured in the minor accident. According to Google, the vehicle was driving in…

New commercial driver’s license rules proposed Road users in South Carolina and around the country rely on government rules and regulations to ensure that heavy commercial vehicles like buses and semi-tractor trailers are safe and their drivers qualified and properly trained. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration establishes the requirements that must be before a…

Industrial accident in South Carolina kills worker A Feb. 25 accident in Richland County resulted in the death of a 36-year-old Connecticut man. The individual was working on a tank truck at the time of the incident. As the hydraulic system of the vehicle failed, he was caught between the tank and the bed of…

The importance of respirators in the workplace Workplace safety regulations in South Carolina and around the country are clear. If the workplace contains inhalable toxins or other harmful vapors, then the employer must provide functioning respiratory protection. Any failure on their part to keep the air clean and the breathing passages of their employees safe…

Scissor lift accidents and avoiding them Some workers in the South Carolina construction and manufacturing industries use scissor lifts as a regular part of doing their jobs. Improperly using this type of equipment may lead to serious accidents potentially causing death or severe injury to workers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the…

NHTSA approves computer as driver in self-driving cars On Feb. 4, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent a letter to Google that may hasten the speed at which South Carolina drivers see self-driving cars on their roads. The letter was in response to a proposed design that Google submitted to the agency on Nov.…

Fall prevention on construction sites The operators of any construction site in the state of South Carolina and the employers of any workers assigned to that work area are required by law and regulation to minimize their employees’ exposure to the risks and hazards associated with falls from high places. OSHA regulations govern the circumstances…

Improving worker safety in the recycling industry South Carolina residents may be surprised to learn just how dangerous recycling and waste management work can be. The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks refuse collection among the 10 most dangerous civilian jobs in America, and more than 5 percent of the nation’s recycling and waste management workers…