OSHA implements new reporting rule for workplace accidents

On behalf of Michael Vanasse at Vanasse Law LLC

OSHA recently introduced a new rule that is meant to improve safety conditions on the job.

In Pennsylvania and across the country, employees in many fields of work run the risk of suffering a severe injury on the job. When employers fail to take proper precautions to protect their employees, serious consequences can result.

In an effort to hold employers accountable for their dangerous workplaces, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced plans to change the reporting requirements following an on-the-job accident.

These days, employers must only report workplace accidents to OSHA if an employee dies or if three or more employees are sent to the hospital for medical care as a result of the incident.

Under the new rule issued by OSHA, employers will have to report many more on-the-job incidents to the agency. For instance, employers will now be required to report accidents in which even one worker requires medical attention in a hospital. In addition, any situation in which a worker loses an eye or has to undergo an amputation must be reported to OSHA.

If employers are required to report all such incidents, the expectation is that they will then take steps to improve safety conditions in their workplaces, to prevent subsequent accidents.

Employers are required to report any workplace accident that results in a fatality within eight hours. Under the new rule, they are required to report incidents that result in hospitalizations or amputations within 24 hours.

New rule meant to prevent workplace fatalities

If employers are required to report dangerous accidents, action should be taken to improve safety to prevent workers from being killed on the job. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4,405 workers died in on-the-job accidents in the United States last year.

In Pennsylvania, 163 workers were killed in accidents on the job in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Construction workers were the most at risk of being killed in a workplace accident – in all, 26 of the fatalities in Pennsylvania were individuals in the construction industry.

In addition, men between 25 and 54 years of age were the most likely to be killed in a workplace incident in Pennsylvania. In all, 91 percent of those fatally injured on the job were men. Those between the ages of 25 and 54 accounted for 58 percent of the people killed on the job in the state.

If you have been injured while at work, you need to take action to protect your rights. Medical expenses following a workplace accident can be considerable. Filing for workers’ compensation benefits can help alleviate the financial burden following a workplace accident. Consider seeking the counsel of a skilled workers’ compensation attorney to discuss your case.