OSHA has launched a new web portal for employers to report fatalities, inpatient hospitalizations, and other severe injuries. But the advice from one lawyer who specializes in OSHA matters is “proceed with caution.”
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Since January 2015, all employers have been required to report to OSHA all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye within 24 hours, in addition to the requirement to report fatalities within 8 hours. The web portal opened earlier this month and represents the third way employers can report, in addition to calling the nearest area office or calling the OSHA toll free number.
Attorney Eric J. Conn says there’s reason to be cautious about using the online method. Conn, who heads the OSHA Practice Group at Conn Maciel Carey, agrees that contacting the agency online is an easy, 24/7 way to report, but it has a number of drawbacks.