Expanded OSHA reporting requirement for workplace injuries
As of January 1, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to notify it of all work-related deaths, inpatient hospitalizations of any employees, amputations and losses of at least one eye. Previously, employers only had to report work-related deaths and hospitalization of three or more employees. Here are some FAQs:
Who must report deaths and severe injuries under the new rules?
Most franchised dealers come under OSHA jurisdiction, so dealers should expect to report all qualifying work-related incidents.
When should a death be reported?
A work-related death must be reported within eight hours of an employer learning of it. Employers only must report deaths that occur within 30 days of a work-related incident.
When should a severe injury or illness be reported?
Employers must report an inpatient hospitalization, amputation or eye loss within 24 hours after learning of it. They only must report these occurrences if they happen within 24 hours of a work-related incident.
How can I report an event to OSHA?
Employers may report events to OSHA by telephone to the nearest OSHA Area Office during business hours, by phone to the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-6742 or (available soon) at www.osha.gov.
What type of information must be reported?
When reporting a death, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye, an employer must report to OSHA:
« The establishment name
« Location of the work-related incident
« Time of the incident
« Type of reportable event (such as death or inpatient hospitalization)
« Number of employees who suffered the event
« Names of the employees who suffered the event
« Company contact person and his/her phone number
« Brief description of the incident.
Should employers report inpatient hospitalizations resulting from a heart attack?
If the heart attack resulted from a work-related incident, employers must report it.
Incidents do not need to be reported if they occur on public streets or highways or on commercial or public transportation. Deaths that occur more than 30 days after the work-related incident or inpatient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of eyes that occur more than 24 hours after the work-related incident need not be reported. Nor do inpatient hospitalizations for diagnostic testing or observation only.
Thanks to Michael Charapp, Esq., Charapp & Weiss LLP, for providing this information.
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