How and within what time must a workplace accident be reported in the United States?

A work-related death must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours, and any work-related in-patient hospitalisation, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours. Report by phone or in person to the nearest OSHA area office, on 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or with OSHA's online form. Separately, employers that keep records must enter each recordable case on the OSHA 300 log and 301 form within 7 calendar days.

Short answer

• Death: within 8 hours, if the death occurs within 30 days of the work-related incident.
• In-patient hospitalisation, amputation (including fingertip), loss of an eye: within 24 hours, if it occurs within 24 hours of the incident.
• Late knowledge: if you learn of the event later, the 8 or 24 hours run from when you or your agent learned of it.
• Who must report: every employer covered by the OSH Act, including small employers and partially exempt industries.
• Not reportable: road accidents on public roads outside a construction work zone, and events on commercial aircraft, trains, buses or similar public transport (they are still recorded where records are kept). Admissions only for observation or diagnostic testing do not count.
• State Plans can have their own, stricter rules: California, for example, requires any serious injury, serious illness or death to be reported to Cal/OSHA within 8 hours (Title 8, Section 342).

How to make the report

Under 29 CFR 1904.39 the report can be made in three ways: by telephone or in person to the nearest OSHA area office, by telephone to the 24-hour number 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or electronically through the reporting application on osha.gov. If the area office is closed, a message on its answering machine, a fax or an email does not count; use the 800 number or the online form.

OSHA asks for:

1. the establishment name;
2. the location and time of the incident;
3. the type of event (death, in-patient hospitalisation, amputation or loss of an eye);
4. the number and names of employees affected;
5. a contact person and phone number;
6. a brief description of the incident.

A heart attack at work that leads to death or hospitalisation is reportable; the area director decides whether to investigate.

Recording versus reporting

Reporting tells OSHA now; recording builds the yearly injury statistics.

How this compares with the EU and Türkiye

In the EU, notification deadlines are set by each member state under the Framework Directive. In Türkiye, Law No. 6331 Art. 14 requires the employer to notify the Social Security Institution (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, SGK) of every work accident within three working days, and of occupational diseases within three working days of learning of them. The US deadline is shorter but covers only the most serious events; less serious injuries are recorded, not reported.

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a diagnosis. Report the hospitalisation or amputation within 24 hours; details can follow.
• Leaving a voicemail at the area office. It does not count when the office is closed.
• Thinking small firms are exempt. The 10-employee exemption applies to recordkeeping, not to reporting.

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in United States: law, authorities and employer duties
• How fast must a fatality or amputation be reported to OSHA?
• OSHA recordable vs reportable injury
• When to post and submit the OSHA 300A
• OSHA recordkeeping and reporting under 29 CFR 1904

Standards and further reading

• 29 CFR 1904.39 Reporting fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations and losses of an eye: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.39
• 29 CFR 1904.29, 1904.32, 1904.33 and 1904.41 (forms, annual summary, retention, electronic submission): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.41
• OSHA recordkeeping overview: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping
• California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 342 (reporting to Cal/OSHA): https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/342.html

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.