On January 1, 2015, new OSHA regulations took effect that broaden the scope of work-related injuries that employers must now report to OSHA.
Under the new OSHA requirement at 29 CFR 1904.39, employers must report severe work-related injuries — in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and loss of an eye — within 24 hours of the event. The final rule also retains the obligation that employers report work-related fatalities within 8 hours of the event.
In addition, OSHA’s final rule maintains the exemption to routine recordkeeping for employers with ten or less employees, and it also updates the list of industries that are exempt from the requirement to routinely keep OSHA injury and illness records, due to relatively low occupational injury and illness rates.
OSHA’s website provides information on FAQ and related guidance on the reporting and recordkeeping obligations.