If a serious injury or fatality occurs on the job, do you know the OSHA reporting requirements or do you automatically assume you are exempt? Review the main points to remember now so you are prepared, and then keep the focus on safety so you never have to put this knowledge to use.
All employers under OSHA jurisdiction are required to report certain work-related fatalities and severe injuries.
- A work-related fatality must be reported within 8 hours.
- A work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.
What companies are required to report?
OSHA covers most private-sector employers and workers in the United States, either through Federal OSHA or an OSHA-approved State Plan. Coverage can differ for state and local government workers, certain agricultural operations, and some other workplaces. If you are unsure which requirements apply to your organization, contact OSHA or your State Plan for guidance.
Many states operate their own occupational safety and health programs for private sector and/or state and local government workers. Reporting requirements may vary by state, although all states must have or be in the process of developing requirements that are at least as effective as OSHA's. Refer to your State Plan Reporting Requirements for clarification.
How is an injury or fatality reported?
There are three ways you can report a fatality or an injury that was described above.
- Call the local OSHA office. Note: If the local area OSHA office is closed, then don’t wait for the office to open, use another method of reporting.
- Call the OSHA 24-hour hotline at 1-800-321-6742.
- Report online.
What information needs to be reported?
Be prepared to provide the establishment name, location and time of the incident, type of reportable event, number and names of employees affected, a brief description of the incident, and a contact name and phone number.
When reporting the incident online you will be required to provide additional details about the incident so be prepared to get that information quickly so you can provide it to OSHA.
What if it was a vehicle accident?
If there was a motor vehicle accident that occurred in a construction work zone, you must report if the accident resulted in a fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. However, if the motor vehicle accident occurred on a public street or highway or the employee was on commercial or public transportation (like an airplane, train, subway or bus), you do not have to report. Note: if your company is required to maintain OSHA injury and illness records, the incident will still have to be recorded in those logs.
What if the employee went to the emergency room?
Treatment at an emergency room or urgent care clinic alone is not reportable under the hospitalization requirement. The employee must be formally admitted to the in-patient service of a hospital or clinic for care or treatment.
Does cutting the tip of a finger off count as amputation?
Yes, fingertip amputations with or without bone loss do count as an amputation. An amputation is the traumatic loss of all or part of a limb or other external body part.
Who should do the reporting if the employee is a temporary worker?
The employer that provides the day-to-day supervision of the worker must report to OSHA.
What if the employee had a heart attack?
If an employee experiences a work-related heart attack that results in a fatality or in-patient hospitalization, the event must be reported to OSHA. The local OSHA Area Office will determine whether to investigate based on the circumstances.
What if the death or injury occurs later after the work incident?
A work-related fatality must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours after the employer learns of the fatality. The fatality is reportable if it occurs within 30 days of the work-related incident.
A work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours after the employer learns of the reportable event. These injuries are reportable if they occur within 24 hours of the work-related incident.
If the employer does not learn about the reportable event right away, the reporting period begins when the employer becomes aware of it.
What if it’s still not clear if the incident should be reported?
If it is unclear whether an incident meets OSHA's reporting requirements, contact the local OSHA Area Office, OSHA's 24-hour hotline, or the applicable State Plan for guidance. Failure to report a qualifying event within the required timeframe can result in OSHA citations and penalties.
What if the employee was admitted to the hospital for observation?
An in-patient hospitalization does not need to be reported if it involves only observation or diagnostic testing. An in-patient hospitalization that involves care or treatment must be reported.
Will reporting an incident result in an OSHA visit?
Reporting fatalities and incidents as required will not automatically result in an OSHA site visit, however employees and management should be prepared and trained in how best to react if an OSHA compliance officer does visit the site to complete an investigation.
The details of these requirements can be found in OSHA Standard 1904.39 Reporting Fatality, Injury and Illness Information to the Government.
For a great resource to learn more about exactly which companies and organizations are covered by OSHA, you can download the All About OSHA publication.
While it’s important to be aware of OSHA reporting requirements, it’s equally important that continual improvement of your safety and health program is a priority. Regular safety meetings give employers an opportunity to address workplace hazards, reinforce safe work practices, and keep important safety information in front of employees
.jpg)
.jpg)