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PCCA Journal|1

st

Quarter 2015

37

A

s of January 1, new recordkeeping and

reporting rules went into effect from the Oc-

cupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA). These are major changes affecting

all industries. This article outlines what you

need to know to keep your company compliant with these

rule changes.

Previously, employers had to report the following to OSHA:

All work-related fatalities and work-related hospitalizations

of three or more employees.

As of January 1, employers are required to report the fol-

lowing to OSHA: All work-related fatalities, all work-related

hospitalizations of one or more employees, all work-related

amputations, and all work-related losses of an eye.

Who is covered under this change? All employers under

federal OSHA jurisdiction are covered. Employers located in

states that operate their own safety and health programs (i.e.,

State Plan States) should check with their state plan for the

implementation date of the new requirements. OSHA said it

encouraged the states to implement the new coverage provi-

sions on January 1, but some may not be able to meet this

tight deadline.

It is important to note that this rule change also affects

employers that are exempt from routinely keeping OSHA

injury and illness records due to their company size or indus-

try. This means that even if you are a small employer (10 or

fewer employees), this rule applies to you.

How soon must you report the event? Within eight hours

of finding out about a fatality and within 24 hours of work-

related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations, and all

losses of an eye. To report an event, call the OSHA area office

nearest to where you are working. A quick internet search

will locate this office, or you can go to

www.osha.gov/html/

ramap.html. Or you can call contact OSHA’s hotline number

at (800) 321-6742 to report the event. OSHA is also preparing

an electronic reporting form for employers, which the agency

said “will soon be available.”

There are a few exceptions to the rules. Employers do not

have to report if the event resulted from a motor vehicle acci-

dent on a public street or highway. With that said, employers

must report the event if it happened in a construction work

zone. You also do not have to report if the incident happened

on a commercial or public transportation system (airplane,

subway, bus, ferry, streetcar, light rail, or train).

This covers the 2015 changes to OSHA’s recordkeeping

rule. If you have additional questions, take a look at www.

osha.gov/recordkeeping2014/index.html, or feel free to reach

out to me.

Phillip Metcalf is the health, safety, and environmental man-

ager at Wayne Farms in Dothan, Ala. He is also a consultant

in the field of safety and environmental compliance to many

industries, including utility construction. He can be reached at

phillip.metcalf@outlook.com.

SafetyWatch

Big Changes to OSHA’s Recordkeeping and Reporting

By Phillip Metcalf

1-800-328-9384

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