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Keeping Up with OSHA’s New Safety Reporting Regulations

March 23, 2015 | Staffing Blog

OSHA Safety Reporting Regulations

At the beginning 2015, Occupational Safety and Health Administration implemented new regulations for reporting a work-related fatality, hospitalization, amputation or eye loss. The motive behind the changes, according to OSHA, is to collect better information while also improving employee awareness and involvement in the reporting of job-related injuries. These changes also should eliminate previous under-reporting of illness and injury.

Three new record keeping forms came into use:

  • OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
  • OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
  • OSHA Form 301, Injury and Illness Incident Report

As with any bureaucratic changes, there’s a learning curve as businesses figure out what, when and how to report work-related injury and illness. Some employers are exempt from reporting, but for those that aren’t, an important deadline is coming up. Between Feb. 1 and April 30, employers must complete OSHA Form 300A, which summarizes the total number of workplace injuries and illnesses they had in 2014. The form must be posted in a common area, such as the break room or near the time clock, according to this article on HR.BLR.com.

Even some industries previously exempt from reporting – such as auto parts stores, equipment rental and promoters of sporting and arts events – must now keep a routine record of injuries.

According to OSHA, employers have to report:

  • All work-related fatalities within eight hours.
  • All work-related in-patient hospitalizations, all amputations and all losses of an eye within 24 hours.

Make a report in one of the following ways:

  • Call OSHA’s free and confidential number at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
  • Calling your closest OSHA area office during normal business hours.
  • Use a new online form that will be available soon.

For a full list of regulations and information, visit the OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements webpage. Also check out Safety.BLR.com to download an “Is It Recordable” injury and illness reporting flowchart to help you determine whether to log an injury on the OSHA 300 form.