Reporting construction work accidents is a matter that OSHA has always taken seriously, but the consequences of non-compliance have become ever more evident. In a recent high-profile case involving a multi-state retail company, OSHA stated that their fines were based not only on the safety violations but also the fact that the company failed to report. Says OSHA, “This is a clear indication that management is not sharing safety and health information throughout the corporation to protect its employees.”
Many states operate their own occupational safety and health programs for private sector and/or state and local government workers, so knowing whom to report to is the first step. The Office of State Programs will quickly refer inquires to the nearest state program in your jurisdiction.
There are specific rules that companies are required to comply with following an accident and OSHA has a dedicated webpage to streamline the process. Among them:
- Employers must report work-related fatalities within 8 hours of finding out about it.
- For any in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss employers must report the incident within 24 hours of learning about it.
When reporting an accident, it is important to know that all employers under OSHA jurisdiction must report, even employers who are exempt from routinely keeping OSHA records due to company size or industry.
Employers have options for reporting the event:
- By telephone to the nearest OSHA Area Office during normal business hours.
- By telephone to the 24-hour OSHA hotline (1-800-321-OSHA or 1-800-321-6742).
In either case, employers should be prepared to supply the name of employees affected, location and time of the incident and a brief description.
For more specific questions, including under which circumstances it is not required to report, visit OSHA’s website on reporting compliance.
At Diversified Safety Services, we stand ready to help you these and other construction safety matters.
