In mid-September, OSHA published a final rule updating the injury and illness recordkeeping requirements to expand the list of severe injuries and illnesses that employers must report to OSHA. According to OSHA, "The final rule will allow OSHA to focus its efforts more effectively to prevent fatalities and severe work-related injuries and illnesses."

Beginning January 1, 2015, all employers (facilities) with 11 or more employees must report:

• All work-related fatalities within 8 hours; and

• Within 24 hours, all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations and all losses of an eye.

You can report to OSHA by:

• Calling OSHA’s free and confidential number: 1-800-321-6742

• Calling your closest OSHA area office during normal business hours

• Using the new online form that will soon be available, found here.

• Only fatalities occurring within 30 days of the work-related incident must be reported to OSHA. For an inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye, these incidents must be reported to OSHA only if they occur within 24 hours of the work-related incident.
• Establishments located in states under Federal OSHA jurisdiction must begin to comply with the new requirements on January 1, 2015. Establishments located in states that operate their own safety and health programs should check with their state plan for the implementation date of the new requirements.