Recent News – Smith & Griffith Legal Blog

OSHA to address health care worker injuries Nurses in South Carolina work in one of the country’s most dangerous occupations. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there are more workplace injuries reported by health care workers than workers in any other general industry segment. To combat this problem, the OSHA enforcement director announced…

Nail salon chemicals under increased scrutiny South Carolina residents may have noticed a slew of recent news reports regarding the purported danger of chemicals in nail salon products. There have been new studies suggesting that extended exposure to such chemicals could lead to serious health issues, including cancer, respiratory disease, asthma and miscarriages, and a…

Investigation continues into fatal South Carolina crash Authorities in South Carolina have reported that a collision involving a car and a pickup truck resulted in two fatalities on the morning of June 3. The accident victims were identified as a 28-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman by a representative of the Florence County Coroner’s Office.…

National study looks at fatal accident causes In South Carolina and across the U.S., the most common cause of fatal car accidents is a driver’s failure to stay in the proper lane. A study conducted by the Auto Insurance Center collected data on fatal U.S. car wrecks from 2009 to 2013. The research looked at…

Workplace injuries involving animals Many workers in South Carolina may be doing more outdoor labor as the weather warms up and the days get longer. As more tasks are completed outside, workers are exposed to more outdoor hazards. One of these outdoor hazards is contact with snakes, bees, ticks and other creatures that can sometimes…

New safety regulations for confined spaces in construction Many construction workers in South Carolina enter confined spaces while they are working. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, these workers can face many physical and atmospheric hazards as a result. On May 4, the federal agency announced a new safety standard for confined spaces…

Some days are riskier for South Carolina drivers It has been indicated that the risk of having a car accident can vary simply depending on the day. In fact, certain periods may prove riskier for motorists to occupy the roadways. Though some holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, have a reputation for an increase in…

Steps for South Carolina employers after workplace accidents Workplace accidents can and do happen even when precautions are taken. While employees can take steps to ensure their own safety, the actions of managers and employers also make a difference. If an accident or injury occurs, there are some steps supervisors should follow. Assessing an employee’s…

Different outcomes in criminal and civil court Families in South Carolina that feel a loved one’s death was the fault of someone’s negligent or willful actions sometimes decide to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Because there is a lower burden of proof in a civil lawsuit than in a criminal trial, there are cases where…

Hot weather can be hard on outside workers South Carolina summers can be very hot, especially when its residents are outside working under the hot sun. The state’s employers, therefore, may want to consider measures to protect their workers from heat-related health problems. More than 30 workers died nationwide from heat-related problems in 2012, according…