If an employee sustains a severe injury, by what date must the employer report the injury to OSHA or the state agency?

If an employee sustains a severe injury, by what date must the employer report the injury to OSHA or the state agency?

• A. August 30
• B. September 1
• C. July 31
• D. August 15

Answer: (A)

Severe injuries must be reported quickly—within eight hours of the incident. OSHA requires employers to notify the agency about work-related fatalities and certain severe injuries, such as an inpatient hospitalization, an amputation, or a lost eye, within that eight-hour window. If the injury occurs on August 30, the employer must report by August 30 (the same day) as long as the eight-hour period is still within that calendar day. The deadline would only push to the next day if the incident happened late enough that eight hours crossed midnight, but in this scenario August 30 is the correct due date.

Severe injuries must be reported quickly—within eight hours of the incident. OSHA requires employers to notify the agency about work-related fatalities and certain severe injuries, such as an inpatient hospitalization, an amputation, or a lost eye, within that eight-hour window. If the injury occurs on August 30, the employer must report by August 30 (the same day) as long as the eight-hour period is still within that calendar day. The deadline would only push to the next day if the incident happened late enough that eight hours crossed midnight, but in this scenario August 30 is the correct due date.