In 2015, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration revised its reporting requirements and mandated increased reporting of severe employee injuries.  Employers must report all workplace fatalities within eight (8) hour (preexisting rule).  The new requirements state that employers report the hospitalization of a single employee — rather than three or more employees as previously required — as well as all amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours of learning of the incidents by management.

In the first year of increased reporting (2015), OSHA received more than 10,000 reports.  About 40% resulted in on-site inspections, while 50% resulted in a rapid response investigation that requests more information about the incident and the employer’s corrective action (phone and fax procedure).  OSHA recently stated that the employer response information would not be used when issuing citations or fines.  However, the agency may decide to conduct an inspection based on the nature of the event and the sufficiency of the response. OSHA will use inspection information to determine whether citations should be issued.  Check out more information on OSHA reporting here.