How to Contact OSHA

OSHA

If you have questions about occupational safety and health, or you need to report a hazard or violation in your workplace, you may want to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA is a federal agency that is responsible for enforcing safety and health regulations in the workplace, and it offers a variety of resources and services to workers, employers, and the general public.

No company wants to have to contact OSHA to report a workplace incident, but every company should know how to. Whether it is a serious injury that has occurred following an accident on site or even a fatality that has happened within the grounds of a business, the incident must be reported to OSHA promptly to keep a written record of the event.

Understanding Whether An Incident Needs To Be Reported To OSHA

In the event of a fatality, it is a requirement to report this to OSHA no later than eight hours after it occurs. If a serious injury is to happen, this must be reported within twenty-four hours. A serious injury is anything that can be considered life-changing or which prevents an employee from being able to undertake their role; this may include amputation, loss of eyesight or hearing, or an incident that leads to the hospitalization of the victim. If this injury becomes a fatality within thirty days of the incident, an update must be sent to OSHA to make them aware of the progression.

If an incident occurs with a member of the public or a site visitor due to the fault of an organization, this is also required to be reported. If somebody is not working but happens to become the victim of an accident that results in a serious injury, this must be reported in the same way that an employee incident would be reported. A serious injury is considered one that results in hospital treatment, but no report is required if the hospitalization only occurs as a precautionary measure and the patient leaves without a confirmed injury.

The Different Ways Of Contacting OSHA

There are several ways to contact OSHA and this will depend on the reason for your contact, differing depending on the level of importance and urgency. For many business owners, especially those who have never had to file a report with OSHA previously, there can be a range of questions about the health and safety requirements within their organization or whether a certain incident is required to go on record.

If you are looking to find out more information regarding the requirements of OSHA, here are some useful places to start:

OSHA online resources

OSHA's website (www.osha.gov) offers a variety of resources and tools, including fact sheets, guidance documents, and frequently asked questions. You can also use the website to report a hazard or file a complaint.

OSHA chatbot

OSHA's chatbot, AskOSHA, is available on the agency's website and can provide information on a variety of topics related to occupational safety and health.

If these methods do not provide the information needed, contact OSHA directly to get a more comprehensive level of information and assistance:

Call OSHA's toll-free number

You can call OSHA's toll-free number at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) to ask questions or get information about safety and health in the workplace. The number is available from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Contact your local OSHA office

OSHA has regional and area offices located throughout the United States. You can find the contact information for your local OSHA office on the agency's website, or by calling the toll-free number.