OSHA’s current injury reporting requirements mandate that employers notify OSHA of any workplace fatalities or instances where three or more workers are hospitalized as a result of the same incident.  This reporting is to be done within 8 hours of the occurrence of the incident. Beginning in 2015, OSHA will require employers to report fatalities within 8 hours and any hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours.

As with most regulations, there are exceptions.  You do not have to report the fatality, hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye to OSHA if: 1) the incident occurs during transportation on a public road, unless the incident happens in a work zone or  2) the incident occurs during the use of public transportation (travelling on a bus, train, subway or airplane).  The fatality or injury still must be recorded on the OSHA log if it is work-related.

If the fatality occurs 30 days after the incident,or if the hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye does not occur within 24 hours of the incident it does not need to be reported.  The incidents need to be recorded on the log if work-related.

An inpatient hospitalization is defined by OSHA as a formal admission to the inpatient service of a hospital or clinic for care of treatment.

Amputations are the traumatic loss of a limb or other external body part.

The incident can be reported to OSHA In a number of ways.  First you can call or visit the OSHA office closest to where the incident occurred to make the report.  You can also contact OSHA’s central reporting site at 800-321-6742.  OSHA will also be setting up an online reporting system on its website.

OSHA Is taking this reporting process seriously and will cite employers for not reporting these incidents in accordance with the established time frames.  Click here for OSHA’s fact sheet that you can download and keep as a reference.