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In 2013, OSHA received reports of nearly 2,000 catastrophes or fatalities, and the agency is expecting sixty times that amount in 2015. The agency estimates it will receive about 117,000 reports nationwide. This is why OSHA updated its injury reporting rule, which now include severe injuries and illnesses. As of January 1, 2015, all employers must report:

  • All work-related fatalities within 8 hours.
  • All work-related hospitalizations, all amputations or loss of an eye, within 24 hours. You can report to OSHA by calling OSHA’s free and confidential number at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).

Until now, employers were only required to report injuries or illness that included three or more workers being sent to the hospital. The previous rule deemed these types of injuries as “catastrophes.” This additional information will help OSHA do its job better. Up until these recent changes, OSHA received very little reporting information with regard to non-fatal work related injuries. These new reporting changes will allow OSHA to allocate the appropriate resources and better evaluation current work safety standards.

It’s important to note that record-keeping requirements are not the same as injury reporting requirements. Small companies don’t have to log work-related injuries and illnesses, but everyone covered by OSHA has to report them. There are no exceptions.

Where to go for more information.

For the updated list of exempt industries and the most up to date changes on injury reporting requirements, visit: www.osha.gov.

WorkSource, a premiere staffing agency serving Des Moines, keeps informed of the issues that affect your business. For more information on OSHA safety standards contact the experienced recruiters at WorkSource today.

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