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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can cite employers if they neglect to keep records on workplace injuries or illnesses that occur at their business. This recordkeeping is a simple process. First, the employer must prepare an incident report detailing the injury within seven days of its occurrence. Employers must also create a separate injury log, also within seven days. At the end of the year, the company must create a summary report of all injuries. All of these records must be kept for five years from the end of the recorded year.
Currently, there is a six-month time limit on how far into the past OSHA can look for recordkeeping violations. The administration unsuccessfully attempted in 2012 to extend this six-month limit to the full five years of required recordkeeping, but the motion failed to convince a federal judge.
OSHA has continued to fight for the extension of the six-month limit. On December 4, 2014, OSHA and the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health held a meeting in which both organizations agreed that the limit needed to be eliminated. This change could happen soon and will benefit future safety investigations by OSHA to see if companies have made long-term violations that result in injuries to workers.
Do I Have a Work Injury Claim?
A workplace injury can have a devastating impact on a person’s lifestyle. Between lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, workers may be entitled to compensation for employer negligence. The Columbus attorneys at Larrimer & Larrimer have an extensive history of fighting for workers’ compensation. If you are dealing with an injury while working on the job, or if an employer has told you not to report your injury, find a lawyer near you to make sure you do not lose your rights. Call today to schedule a free case review.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys
Source: http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8c594edb-0ca2-4cbc-9b9e-9c989a7276d2