January 2, 2015 · Volume 14, Issue 1 |
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New reporting requirements now in effect Beginning yesterday, Jan. 1, 2015, there is a change to what covered employers are required to report to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employers are now required to report all work-related fatalities within 8 hours and all inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye within 24 hours of finding out about the incident. On Dec. 11, OSHA held a conversation on Twitter to answer questions about the new reporting requirements going into effect at the beginning of the new year. Some of the most frequently asked questions are discussed in a blog by Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. Previously, employers were required to report all workplace fatalities and when three or more workers were hospitalized in the same incident. The updated reporting requirements have a life-saving purpose: they will enable employers and workers to prevent future injuries by identifying and eliminating the most serious workplace hazards. Employers will have three options for reporting these severe incidents to OSHA. They can call their nearest area office during normal business hours, call the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or they will be able to report online. (Please note, that the online reporting will be not be available until mid January.) For more information and resources, visit OSHA's Web page on the updated reporting requirements and watch OSHA's new YouTube video, where Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, explains the new reporting requirements.
*Employers under Federal OSHA's jurisdiction must begin reporting by January 1. Establishments in a state with a state run OSHA program should contact their state plan for the implementation date. OSHA wishes you and yours a safe and healthy new year. Please continue to visit the agency's website for news and updates. Look for your next full issue of QuickTakes on Jan. 15. See DOL's weekly electronic newsletter for more DOL news. For more frequent updates on OSHA activities follow DOL on Twitter and Facebook. QuickTakes is emailed free twice monthly to nearly 71,000 subscribers. You can receive it faster and easier by subscribing to the RSS feed that delivers almost instant information. Visit OSHA's RSS Feeds Web page to subscribe. QuickTakes is a product of OSHA's Office of Communications. If you have comments or suggestions that you think could improve the quality of QuickTakes, please submit them to OSHA.QuickTakes@dol.gov or contact the Office of Communications at 202-693-1999. [Note: This address is for input on QuickTakes only. Other questions concerning OSHA should be submitted through the agency's Electronic Mail Form.] For more information on occupational safety and health, visit OSHA's website If this email was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, please visit: https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/quicktakes/subscribe.htm. Register for your FREE QuickTakes newsletter today! You may also remove yourself from the OSHA QuickTakes Subscription list at the above webpage. Thank you. |