OSHA Updates Recordkeeping Requirements

From Cliff Gerbick, CSP (The Reserves Network Director of Safety)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) made significant changes to employers’ requirements for reporting injuries to the agency.  On September 11, 2014, OSHA announced there would be added circumstances under which employers must contact OSHA and report certain occupational incidents.  Prior to the update, employers needed to contact OSHA within eight (8) hours in the event of a death or three (3) or more employees being hospitalized due to an occupational incident.

Besides the existing requirement of reporting a fatality within eight (8) hours, the new requirements require employers to contact OSHA within 24 hours in the event any employee(s) is hospitalized due to occupational incident, an employee has any part of their body amputated or if an employee loses an eye(s).

The new rules are effective January 1, 2015.  In addition the reporting rules update, OSHA also updated its list of exempted industries. These industries are exempt from regular OSHA recordkeeping requirements but still must comply with the above requirements and any other requests by OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

For more information and the full OSHA Press Release, please visit: (www.OSHA.gov)

Cliff Gerbick is the Director of Safety for The Reserves Network, a provider of “Total Staffing Solutions” in the office, industrial, professional and technical markets. To contact Cliff, email cgerbick@TRNstaffing.com.