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OSHA Targeting Under-Reporting of Workplace Injuries

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) there needs to be a reform among the way that employers handle injuries at work.  The OSHA is going to be initiating a program called the National Emphasis Program (NEP) which will be used to identify employers who underreport work place injuries and illnesses. 

The OSHA was prompted to start the National Emphasis Program after a report was released not long ago that work injuries and illnesses were being underreported by employers because they are not filling out the correct form when their employers are being injured.  Another reason the Form 300's have not been being filed properly is because in some cases the employer is either intentionally or unintentionally scaring the employees from wanting to file a work injury or work illness complaint.  Some situations that would cause this are because the employee does not want to get fired from their job if they have to miss time from work because of the injury or illness, fear that they may get put in a different position at work or they may not want to report it because the employer has a special incentive program with a reward such as paid time off, lunch party, etc. if the number of work related injuries are low or non-existent for a set period of time.  According to the OSHA it is these type of things that cause employees to not want to report their work related injuries and illnesses and that even if employers are not intentionally "scaring" their employees they should refrain from anything that may even be unintentionally doing so. 

The OSHA needs to have work related injuries reported to them not only for the employee who has a work related injury or illness' sake but also for other employees.  When there is an unsafe condition in the work environment it can lead to more people being injured and may even lead to the death of some employees.  In 2005 a refinery fire started as a result of a condition within the work place that had been injuring employees for some time but the employer had not been reporting the injuries.  The fire ended up resulting in 15 workers that were killed and over 170 workers that were injured at the work place.  This could have been avoided had the injuries to the earlier workers been reported by the employer to the OSHA properly. 

If you know of an unsafe work condition at your job that can possibly cause injury or illness it is important that you report it to your supervisor or employer.  If they do not take action is important that you speak up and inform someone else, such as the OSHA, of the condition.

If you have been injured at work it is also important that the first thing you do is inform your employer or supervisor of the condition so that they can file the proper paperwork.  You may also be able to collect workers compensation benefits for the injuries you have sustained from your job's negligence.  To speak with Frank J. Dito a Staten Island workers compensation attorney call 800.976.4904 for more information on how you can get workers compensation benefits for your injury or illness.