Did you know, according to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), there were 2.8 million reported workplace injuries in 2019? Of those, there were nearly 20,000 claims in Wisconsin alone. To put that into perspective, if those who had reported injuries were seated in Miller Park they would fill nearly half the stadium. If you were to add the loved ones of those employees that can be impacted by workplace accidents the stadium would be full to the brim in no time. 

That’s why it’s important that all employees understand how to report a workplace injury, when to report a workplace injury, and the workplace injury reporting procedure in the unfortunate event that you or your employees experience an injury at work.

Reporting an injury at work can be an intimidating process, so we have put together some easy steps, based on our years of working with OSHA and employers across the area to ensure that you have the information that you need to be prepared for on the job accident reporting.

Before we begin, we recommend that you review the OSHA website for information on workplace accidents, injury, and to review helpful reporting documents that are available to you at any time. You can access this information by visiting www.osha.gov.

The first step in the reporting process is to determine if an OSHA report is required. Certain employers are required to make a report when an injury results in:

• A work-related fatality.
• A work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.
• A work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
• A work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.
• There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis.

Next, determine how long you have to submit your report. The length of time you have to submit is determined by the severity of the injury.

In the case of a workplace fatality, an employer must report within 8 hours.  A work related injury that results in amputation, loss of eye, or an injury that results in hospitalization must be reported within 24 hours. 

The method of submitting a report is determined by your state. In Wisconsin, OSHA reports can be submitted online. Be prepared to provide the business name; names of employees affected; location and time of the incident, brief description of the incident; contact person and phone number.

Certain other employers are required to report workplace injuries annually. But how do you know if you’re required to report workplace injuries?

Employers with 250 or more employees are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records and submit reports annually via OSHA form 300a, must be submitted online by March 2 of each year.

Additionally, establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses are required to submit injury reports annually via OSHA form 300a, must be submitted online by March 2 of each year.

Finally, we recommend that you prepare your team for prevention and documentation before you need it.

Discuss your plan in the case of an injury at work. Ensure that you have at least one employee trained in First Aid on each shift. If you have a workplace with multiple buildings or sections, you should have one trained employee in each section of your establishment for each shift.

Determine and define roles at your workplace for each shift. Establish how you will communicate these roles to employees so everyone is aware. All employees should know at any time during the work day, who will administer first aid. Employees should also be aware of who will document the incident so they can notify that person immediately. The individuals who are responsible for documentation should have clear instructions of what information needs to be collected, what format it should be collected in, and who will submit the documentation.

Here’s a quick recap…

• Become familiar with the resources available to you at www.osha.gov
• In the case of an injury at work
  • Determine if your workplace is required to report
  • Determine if the injury requires a report
  • Identify the amount of time that you have to submit
• Establish a plan to prevent & document

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you need help with any of these steps, we are here to help! 

Contact EHS Management to discuss your need to see if we might be a good fit.