New OSHA regulations will require employers to report work-related fatalities within eight hours and certain injuries within 24 hours, effective January 1.
Injuries that must be reported within a day of learning of their occurrence include all in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye. Currently employers must repord report all workplace fatalities and incidents in which three or more workers were hospitalized.
The updated reporting requirements are intended to enable employers and workers to prevent future injuries by identifying and eliminating the most serious workplace hazards, according to OSHA.
Employers have three options for reporting these severe incidents to OSHA. They can call their nearest area office during normal business hours, call the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or they can report online at www.osha.gov/report_online. For more information and resources, including a new YouTube video, visit OSHA’s webpage on the updated reporting requirements.
Employers under Federal OSHA’s jurisdiction must begin reporting by January 1. Establishments in a state with a State run OSHA program should contact their state plan for the implementation date.