South Carolina

Any South Carolina employer who regularly employs four or more workers full-time or part-time is required to have workers compensation insurance.

Agricultural employees, railroads, and railway express companies and their employees, and employers who had a total annual payroll during the previous year of less than $3,000, regardless of the number of workers employed during that period are exempt. Textile Hall Corporations and certain real estate agents are also exempt.

Employers should inquire whether or not a sub-contractor/contractor working for them has workers compensation insurance. If the sub-contractor/contractor does not, the sub-contractor/contractor's injured employees would be covered under the employer's workers compensation insurance. If the subcontractor does not carry workers compensation insurance, then the owner or the principal contractor would be liable just as if the subcontractor's employee was one of their employees.

Sole Proprietors and partnerships are not required to have workers compensation insurance; however, they may elect to purchase coverage by notifying their insurance carrier. When a sole proprietorship or partnership incorporates, all employees are automatically covered, including the owners if they are also employees of the corporation.