I am a part of a group within Lockton that is currently studying for the SPHR/PHR certifications. Last week in our study session, we talked about OSHA, and as luck would have it, I also came across the following update to some of their workplace rules.
First of all, deaths in the workplace happen more than you might be aware of. There were 4,405 reported work-related fatalities in 2013, according to OSHA.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) maintains a list of the “fatalities and catastrophes,” on which workplace deaths are tallied. OSHA has announced that two changes with the current Recordkeeeping Rule will go into effect January 1, 2015. Broader reporting requirements will go into effect which will require employers to report all severe work-related injuries. Employers with 10 or more employees will be required to comply by reporting the incidents of any work-related hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours. Previously, employers only had to report the accident if three or more employees were hospitalized from a workplace accident or illness.
The other change in rules includes the industries exempt from the reporting requirements. Based on their “relatively low occupational injury and illness rates,” certain industries can be exempt from routine injury and illness reporting requirements by OSHA. The exempt industries will be based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and injury data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The previous list was based on the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system and injury data from the BLS.
You can read more about the new OSHA rules on OSHA.gov or this article from the Kansas City Star.
I understand that not all of us work in the industries that will be affected by these rules, but is there anyone out there that will be? If so, what will you do differently?