New OSHA Regulations on Illness and Injuries
New OSHA Regulations on Illness and Injuries
Source: TMC Total Medical Compliance
In May, OSHA announced new regulations on reporting workplace illnesses and injuries. This is a two-part change.
- Part one involves reporting illnesses and injuries to OSHA electronically each year and goes into effect in January, 2017. (Note: Part one does not affect CAO. CAO is exempt.)
- Part two covers changes in the policies and procedures needed to ensure employees report their illnesses and injuries without fear of negative consequences.Part two goes into effect on November 1, 2016.
There are three ways you can be exempted (or partially exempted) from electronic reporting. You must still keep records on all injuries and illness incidents and be able to produce them if requested by OSHA even if you are exempt from filling out and posting these reports.
1. If you have 10 or fewer employees you are exempt from keeping or posting these reports.
2. If you have 11-19 employees you must still post the 300A Report in your office annually but are exempt from electronic posting.
3. If your industry is listed in Appendix A of Federal Regulation 1904 as one that is partially exempt, you do not have to produce these reports or post them therefore you do not have to follow the electronic posting regulations.
“Partially exempt” means you are exempt but OSHA can write you and require that your business participate in a survey that usually lasts from 1 to 3 years. The following is a list of pertinent “partially exempt” industries by NAICS code.
- 4461-Health and personal care stores
- 6211- Offices of Physicians
- 6212- Offices of Dentists
- 6213- Offices of other health practitioners
- 6214- Outpatient Care Centers
- 6215- Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
- 8122- Death Care Services
The new regulations do not change the fact that all businesses, with no exceptions, must report any catastrophic work-related illnesses or injuries to OSHA. A death must be reported within 8 hours and hospitalization, loss of limb or eye must be reported within 24 hours.