OSHA Update
Companies should already be aware of changes to OSHA’s recordkeeping and reporting rules effective January 1, 2015. In terms of recordkeeping, employers with ten or fewer employees at all times during the previous calendar year are exempt from routinely keeping OSHA injury and illness records and this continues to be the case. Establishments in certain low-hazard industries are also exempt from routinely keeping OSHA injury and illness records. However, the list of industries that are exempt has been updated and should be reviewed at: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ppt1/RK1exempttable.html
In terms of reporting, "As of January 1, 2015, all employers must report
1. All work-related fatalities within 8 hours.2. All work-related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations and all losses of an eye within 24 hours.
[Employers] can report to OSHA by1. Calling OSHA’s free and confidential number at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
2. Calling your closest Area Office during normal business hours.
3. Using the new online form that will soon be available.
Only fatalities occurring within 30 days of the work-related incident must be reported to OSHA. Further, for an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye, these incidents must be reported to OSHA only if they occur within 24 hours of the work-related incident." https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping2014/index.htmlBusinesses in states and U.S. territories that have their own OSHA-approved State Plans are required to have standards that are at least as effective as OSHA’s. According to OSHA, "All State Plans have begun reviewing their current reporting and recordkeeping requirements to determine how they compare to OSHA’s new reporting requirements. Over the next six months, each State Plan will work to adopt OSHA’s new requirements, and may retain or adopt more stringent requirements. To contact your State Plan about current recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and when and how those requirements will change, please visit: https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/index.html"