New Law Requires Employers to File Fatal Workplace Accident Reports Within 8 Hours

According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,405 workers were killed on the job in the United States last year.

Last Thursday, the government issued a new law that will require employers to file a detailed report within 8 hours of a fatal workplace accident. Additionally, severe work injuries that do not result in death but require hospitalization, including amputation or loss of an eye, must be reported within 24 hours. These reports must be filed to the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These new regulations will take effect January 1, 2015. The new rule maintains the current exemption for any employer with 10 or fewer workers from the requirement to keep records of employee injuries and illnesses. Accident report

Until now, OSHA only required these reports if three or more workers had been killed or hospitalized as a result of an on-the-job accident. Reporting single-instance hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye was not required under previous rules. These new regulations will help OSHA more effectively hold employers accountable for preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.

Severe injuries can indicate that serious hazards may be present in a workplace, and intervention may be required to protect other workers from harm. OSHA’s new reporting requirements will make available the data needed to make decisions regarding workplace safety, and help employers reflect on what is happening within their own businesses.

If you have questions about workplace injuries, work related fatalities, or the laws surrounding workers’ compensation benefits, contact the Steinberg Law Firm to get the answers you need. Our experienced workers’ comp attorneys know the system, and have helped injured workers get the care and compensation they deserve for over 85 years.