Friday, September 12, 2014

New Reporting Requirements for Fatalities and Severe Injuries



All work-related hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye will have to be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to a final rule taking effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Under the newly revised rule, employers under federal OSHA's jurisdiction will be expected to report any fatality to OSHA within 8 hours, and any in-patient hospitalization, amputation or enucleation within 24 hours. Previously, employers were required only to report fatalities, and when three or more workers were hospitalized. Though all employers will have to adhere to the new reporting requirements for fatalities and severe injuries, the rule also updates the list of industries partially exempt from routinely keeping injury and illness logs. The new rule will help OSHA focus compliance assistance and enforcement resources to better protect workers and prevent more workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

No comments: