Family of man who died in Texas trench collapse files lawsuit

The family of the 21-year-old man who died when a trench collapsed on him in April on a project near Corpus Christi, Texas’ Buccaneer Stadium is suing the three companies involved in that project. The lawsuit alleges he would have survived if he had been in a trench box. In July, Fed-OSHA assessed a penalty of more nearly $4,100 against the man’s direct employer. KRIS (Corpus Christi)

Company found negligent in bridge collapse that killed a North Carolina man

A contractor’s failure to follow established safety procedures led to the collapse of a section of a bridge linking North Carolina’s mainland to Hatteras Island, killing one employee and injuring another, according to Fed-OSHA. The employee who died was using a torch to cut crossbeams where concrete had been left for removal, when the weight of the concrete caused the structure to collapse and case the employee to fall, according to the agency. The contractor was cited for allegedly failing to use engineering surveys or calculations to control the bridge’s stability and avoid unplanned collapses, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported last week. WXII

Are you fully vaccinated if you haven’t gotten a booster shot?

Booster shots against COVID-19 are now available for millions of Americans, but do you need to get one to be considered fully vaccinated? KFOR

Navy says it will discharge sailors who refuse COVID-19 vaccine

The U.S. Navy last week announced it is preparing to discharge sailors who refuse vaccination for COVID-19 as mandated by the Pentagon. The Navy says 98 percent of its active-duty members are already vaccinated against the coronavirus. Service members who do not comply risk losing some veterans’ benefits. Fox6

Michigan business group urges feds, state to slow or stop vaccine mandate

A group of Michigan chambers of commerce are asking the Biden administration to reconsider or stall the upcoming release of workplace vaccine mandate rules. The Listen to MI Businesses Coalition, led by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, stressed that business associations by and large support vaccination as the best way to control the spread of COVID-19, but question making businesses responsible for implementation of a mandate. Detroit News

South Carolina Supreme Court issues landmark decision regarding contract workers

The South Carolina Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision narrowing the statutory employee doctrine and increasing the likelihood companies can be held liable in tort for injuries suffered by their contractor or subcontractor workers. Employers should understand South Carolina’s statutory employee doctrine may no longer act as a shield against tort liability for injuries suffered by contract workers, writes Stephen Bell of Cranfill Sumner LLP. JD Supra