On September 30, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published two additional answers to its list of COVID-19 frequently asked questions (FAQs). The new answers clarify when employers must report COVID-19 in-patient hospitalizations and fatalities.
Reporting Hospitalizations – OSHA requires employers to report in-patient hospitalizations only if the hospitalization occurs within 24 hours of an exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. As a result, employers must report COVID-19 hospitalizations only if the hospitalizations are:
- For in-patient treatment; and
- The result of a work-related case of COVID-19.
The report must be submitted within 24 hours of the time the employer determines there was an in-patient hospitalization caused by a COVID-19 case. Hospitalization for diagnostic testing or observation only is not “in-patient” hospitalization.
Reporting Fatalities – OSHA requires employers to report fatalities that occur within 30 days of an exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace. Fatality reports must be submitted within eight hours of the time the employer learns that the fatality took place and that it was due to a work-related exposure.
According to OSHA, this limitation only applies to reporting: “Employers who are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records must still record work-related confirmed cases of COVID-19” as required by other parts of the regulation.
Please contact us if you have any questions or as soon as possible following a work-related injury or illness.