OSHA’s new injury reporting requirements: What you need to know

Federal OSHA’s new stricter severe injury and fatality reporting requirements take effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Is your safety team ready?

OSHA’s new rule – Occupational Injury a…nd Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements – NAICS Update and Reporting Revisions — focuses on severe injuries and fatalities.

What must be reported

As of Jan. 15, 2015, companies are required to report the following injuries to OSHA:
an in-patient hospitalization of one or more workers
an amputation, or
the loss of an eye.

These incidents must be reported within 24 hours.

Workplace fatalities must be reported within 8 hours. Only fatalities occurring within 30 days of the work-related incident must be reported to OSHA.

Previously, employers were only required to report hospitalizations of three or more workers.

Note: The Jan. 1, 2015 deadline only applies to states under the jurisdiction of Federal OSHA. State plans are required to enact the rule by Jan. 1, 2016.
How to report

OSHA has two ways these injuries can be reported — and a third is on the way:
Calling OSHA’s free and confidential number at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), or
Calling your closest Area Office during normal business hours.

The agency also announced a new online resource for reporting severe injuries, which currently states the service is coming soon.

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