OSHA proposes changes to reporting rule

Washington – A new proposed rule from OSHA would change employer reporting requirements for serious workplace injuries and deaths.

Currently, employers have to report to OSHA within eight hours any workplace fatality incidents and in-patient hospitalizations involving three or more workers. The proposed rule (.pdf file), published in the June 22 Federal Register, would change the reporting regulation (1904.39) to require employers to report within the eight-hour time frame all in-patient hospitalizations or fatalities, regardless of the number of workers affected. Additionally, all work-related amputations would have to be reported within 24 hours.

The agency also proposed a change to how it determines which industries are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records (1904.2). Current workplaces that are partially exempt include those in some low-hazard industries within Standard Industrial Classification system codes 52-89, such as finance, insurance and the service industry.

The rule would switch from the SIC system to the North American Industry Classification System. NAICS-coded industries will be exempt if they average 2007-2009 Days Away, Restricted or Transferred rates equal to or less than 75 percent of the national average.

Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by Sept. 20.