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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