The OSHA Standard for Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 29 C.F.R. § 1904, requires that certain employers track work-related injuries and illnesses of their employees throughout the year, post the summaries of those injuries at the end of the year, maintain records for five years and report to OSHA certain work-related incidents. This GT Alert will identify the most recent changes to the requirements. 

There were two changes to the standard that went into effect Jan. 1, 2015. The first is related to the list of exempt businesses that do not have to comply with the recording requirements of the standard. The second change is related to the reporting requirement for all businesses to report to OSHA certain types of incidents involving employee injuries, hospitalization and death.

Do the Recording Requirements Apply to My Business?

If a company has 10 or fewer employees in the entire company at all times during the year, it does not have to record injuries and keep the records required by the standard. Historically, businesses classified as low hazard retail, service, finance, insurance or real estate industry were not required to keep the records. Appendix A to the old standard provided a complete listing of exempt businesses by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. OSHA has eliminated some businesses from exempt status in the new version of the standard and includes the exempt businesses by reference to NAISC codes. The new standard that lists the exempt businesses is reproduced in Appendix A (see below).

Do the Reporting Requirements Apply to My Business?

Even if your company is exempt from the recording requirements, it still must comply with the reporting requirements. The old standard required all employers to report to OSHA within eight hours of learning of any workplace fatality or the hospitalization of three or more employees which occurred within 30 days of a workplace incident. The new standard has broadened the reporting requirement to now include the hospitalization of one or more employees and any amputation or loss of an eye. As with the old standard, under the new standard the employer can call their local area office or 800-321-OSHA. The requirement to report deaths due to heart attack, which may not appear to be work-related but occurred at the workplace, is still a requirement of the standard.

29 CFR § 1904 APPENDIX A

Non-Mandatory Appendix A to Subpart B — Partially Exempt Industries

Employers are not required to keep OSHA injury and illness records for any establishment classified in the following North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, unless they are asked in writing to do so by OSHA, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), or a state agency operating under the authority of OSHA or the BLS. All employers, including those partially exempt by reason of company size or industry classification, must report to OSHA any employee's fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye (see § 1904.39).

NAICS Code......Industry

4412................ Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
4431................ Electronics and Appliance Stores
4461................ Health and Personal Care Stores
4471................ Gasoline Stations
4481................ Clothing Stores
4482................ Shoe Stores
4483................ Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
4511................ Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores
4512................ Book, Periodical, and Music Stores
4531................ Florists
4532................ Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
4812................ Nonscheduled Air Transportation
4861................ Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
4862................ Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
4869................ Other Pipeline Transportation
4879................ Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other
4885................ Freight Transportation Arrangement
5111................ Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
5112................ Software Publishers
5121................ Motion Picture and Video Industries
5122................ Sound Recording Industries
5151................ Radio and Television Broadcasting
5172................ Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
5173................ Telecommunications Resellers
5179................ Other Telecommunications
5181................ Internet Service Providers and Web Search Portals
5182................ Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5191................ Other Information Services
5211................ Monetary Authorities Central Bank
5221................ Depository Credit Intermediation
5222................ Nondepository Credit Intermediation
5223................ Activities Related to Credit Intermediation
5231................ Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage
5232................ Securities and Commodity Exchanges
5239................ Other Financial Investment Activities
5241................ Insurance Carriers
5242................ Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
5251................ Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds
5259................ Other Investment Pools and Funds
5312................ Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers
5331................ Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)
5411................ Legal Services
5412................ Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
5413................ Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
5414................ Specialized Design Services
5415................ Computer Systems Design and Related Services
5416................ Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
5417................ Scientific Research and Development Services
5418................ Advertising and Related Services
5511................ Management of Companies and Enterprises
5611................ Office Administrative Services
5614................ Business Support Services
5615................ Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services
5616................ Investigation and Security Services
6111................ Elementary and Secondary Schools
6112................ Junior Colleges
6113................ Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
6114................ Business Schools and Computer and Management Training
6115................ Technical and Trade Schools
6116................ Other Schools and Instruction
6117................ Educational Support Services
6211................ Offices of Physicians
6212................ Offices of Dentists
6213................ Offices of Other Health Practitioners
6214................ Outpatient Care Centers
6215................ Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
6244................ Child Day Care Services
7114................ Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures
7115................ Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
7213................ Rooming and Boarding Houses
7221................ Full-Service Restaurants
7222................ Limited-Service Eating Places
7224................ Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
8112................ Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
8114................ Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance
8121................ Personal Care Services
8122................ Death Care Services
8131................ Religious Organizations
8132................ Grantmaking and Giving Services
8133................ Social Advocacy Organizations
8134................ Civic and Social Organizations
8139................ Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations.