OSHA's updated recordkeeping rule expands the list of severe injuries that all employers must report to OSHA. Establishments located in states under Federal OSHA jurisdiction must begin to comply with the new requirements on January 1, 2015. Establishments located in states that operate their own safety and health programs should check with their state plan for the implementation date of the new requirements.
What am I required to report under the new rule?
Previously, employers had to report the following to OSHA:
- All work-related fatalities
- Work-related hospitalizations of three or more employees
Starting in 2015, employers will have to report the following to OSHA:
- All work-related fatalities
- All work-related inpatient hospitalizations of one or more employees
- All work-related amputations
- All work-related losses of an eye
OSHA'S New Reporting Rules Explained:
Who is covered under the new rule?
All employers under OSHA jurisdiction must report all work-related fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye to OSHA, even employers who are exempt from routinely keeping OSHA injury and illness records due to company size or industry.
An amputation is defined as the traumatic loss of a limb or other external body part. Amputations include a part, such as a limb or appendage, that has been severed, cut off, amputated (either completely or partially); fingertip amputations with or without bone loss; medical amputations resulting from irreparable damage; and amputations of body parts that have since been reattached.
How soon must I report a fatality or severe injury or illness?
Employers must report work-related fatalities within 8 hours of finding out about them.
For any inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss that occurs within 24 hours of a work-related incident, employers must report the event within 24 hours of learning about it.
Employers reporting a fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye to OSHA must report the following information:
- Establishment name
- Location of the work-related incident
- Time of the work-related incident
- Type of reportable event (i.e., fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye)
- Number of employees who suffered the event
- Names of the employees who suffered the event
- Contact person and his or her phone number
- Brief description of the work-related incident
Employers do not have to report an event if it resulted from a motor vehicle accident on a public street or highway. Employers must report the event if it happened in a construction work zone.
For any inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss employers must report the incident within 24 hours of learning about it. Employers only have to report an inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye that occurs within 24 hours of a work-related incident.
How do I report an event to OSHA?
Employers have three options for reporting the event:
- By telephone to the nearest OSHA Area Office during normal business hours.
- By telephone to the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
- OSHA is developing a new means of reporting events electronically, which will be available soon at OSHA.gov
What information do I need to report?
Any fatality that occurs within 30 days of a work-related incident, employers must report the event within 8 hours of finding out about it.
Employers do not have to report an inpatient hospitalization if it was for diagnostic testing or observation only. An inpatient hospitalization is defined as a formal admission to the inpatient service of a hospital or clinic for care or treatment.
Employers do have to report an inpatient hospitalization due to a heart attack, if the heart attack resulted from a work-related incident.
Where can I find more information?
For more information about the updated reporting requirements, visit OSHA's webpage on the revised recordkeeping rule here.
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