Do you employ more than 10 workers? Are you aware you may be required by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses? To find out if your industry is exempt, see this list. Minor injuries requiring first aid only do not need to be recorded. In our next blog, we’ll discuss what is considered first aid.
How does OSHA define a recordable injury or illness?
- Any work-related fatality.
- Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.
- Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.
- There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis.
By requiring this information, employers, workers and OSHA can evaluate the safety of a workplace, understand industry hazards, and implement worker protections to reduce and eliminate hazards to hopefully prevent future workplace injuries and illnesses.
Maintaining and Posting Records
The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years. Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives. You can find instructions and forms here. The full regulation can be found at Recordkeeping regulation.
To register for online reporting, apply at the ITA launch page (Injury Tracking Application). To learn about OSHA’s rule on submitting records electronically, read Electronic filing rule.
Severe Injury Reporting
Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours. To report a severe injury or fatality, see How to Report.
We hope you never have a serious injury or fatality in your business, but by sharing this information, we hope to provide you resources to help you be compliant in the event one ever does occur.
