New OSHA Reporting Requirements Start January 1

WASHINGTON (Nov. 17, 2014)—Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, there will be a change to what covered employers are required to report to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Employers will now be required to report all work-related fatalities within eight hours and all in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye within 24 hours of finding about the incident. The updated reporting requirements will enable employers and workers to prevent future injuries by identifying and eliminating the most serious workplace hazards.

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 (800) 321-OSHA (800-321-6742), or they can report online at osha.gov/report_online.

Employers under federal OSHA 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.