Remember that as of January 1, 2015, the OSHA reporting requirements for severe work-related injuries and illnesses have changed. All employers under OSHA jurisdiction are now required to report all work-related fatalities within eight hours, and all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations, and all losses of an eye within 24 hours. Currently, OSHA can be notified by calling their free and confidential number, or by calling or visiting a local area office during normal business hours. An electronic form for online reporting is currently under development.
Also as of January 1, 2015, the list of industries which are partially exempt from the requirements to routinely maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses has been updated. A list of partially exempt industries that are classified by certain NAICS Codes is available on OSHA’s website. If your facility was previously exempt from maintaining OSHA’s Form 300 throughout the year to record work-related injuries and illnesses meeting the recording requirements, it would be prudent to check the updated exemption list to determine if your NAICS Code is still exempt for 2015.
For those facilities that completed OSHA Form 300 throughout 2014, remember that OSHA’s Form 300A must be completed and posted by February 1st. This summary page is required to be posted from February 1st through April 30th of the year following the year covered on the form.
Covered or exempt, remember that proactively implementing measures to reduce the potential for incidents should be everyone’s goal!