A year after OSHA’s new injury and illness reporting requirements went into effect (Jan. 1, 2015); the agency launched a webpage to allow employers to electronically report cases. Employers now have three ways to report incidents: electronically through OSHA’s new web portal, https://www.osha.gov/report.html; by phone (1–800–321–OSHA or 1–800–321–6742); or by contacting the nearest OSHA Area Office. 

The new rule implemented new deadlines and requirements for reporting severe injuries on the jobsite for all employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act - even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records. Contractors are required to notify OSHA within eight hours if there is a work-related fatality on the job and within 24 hours when an employee suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye.

The reporting application includes mandatory fields for the required information. If the report does not include the required information in the mandatory fields, the reporting application will not accept the report. Also, State Plans may have alternate requirements and may not accept reports via this reporting application. The application informs employers how to proceed in instances where a State Plan will not accept a report via the application.