OSHA announces new requirements for reporting severe injuries

By Steven D. Weatherhead

Commencing on January 1, 2015, employers must report the following to the nearest OSHA-area office:

  •  Within 8 hours, a death in the workplace (regardless of reason or cause)
  •  Within 24 hours, and as a result of a workplace incident, the (1) hospital admission of one or more workers; (2) an amputation; and/or (3) loss of an eye.

Under the current rule, which stays into effect until December 31, 2014, employers must report a death or hospital admission of 3 or more employees, all within 8 hours.

Failure to follow these requirements can result in a $7,000 civil penalty (up to $70,000 for repeat violations) and hinder an employer’s ability to argue “good faith” in defending any resulting citations.

For more information, as well as a list of industries that, due to relatively low injury and illness rates, are exempt from the requirement to routinely keep illness and injury records, click here.