New resource available for OSHA reporting requirements for temporary workers

March 24th, 2014 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently provided employers with a resource for improving their workplace safety and regulatory compliance with the administration's injury reporting requirements of temporary workers. The educational tool called the Recordkeeping Bulletin shows employers how to determine which organization is responsible for reporting temporary worker injuries: the host employer or the staffing agency. Before issuing the Recordkeeping Bulletin, OSHA said it has had numerous reports of temporary workers developing severe or fatal injuries, with many experiencing these injuries during their first week in their new position, indicating employers need to do more to protect temporary workers.

David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, said the Recordkeeping Bulletin is the first of materials that focus on improving how employers report injuries and illnesses.

"These materials will provide valuable information for both host employers and staffing agencies on how they can work together to make sure their workers are properly trained and protected," Michaels said in a statement.

Compliance rules for reporting temporary worker injuries
To comply with OSHA's reporting requirements, the administration reminds employers that they should record injuries and illnesses for temporary workers on only one log. The host employer, or the client of the staffing firm, should be the organization recording temporary workers' injuries and illnesses in most cases, according to OSHA. The administration states that employers that are in charge of the temporary workers' day-to-day supervision should report their injuries and illnesses. The staffing agency that supplies clients with workers is allowed to have a representative present at the host employer's worksite, but it is still the main responsibility of the host employer to record work-related incidents.

While the staffing agency may not be required to keep records of their temporary workers' injuries and illnesses, they are still responsibile when it comes to maintaining safe and healthy workplaces for staff. OSHA urges staffing agencies to keep a line of communication open with host employers to better protect workers and notify them of hazards in the workplace before they step onto work sites.

"The staffing agency and host employer must set up a way for employees to report work-related injuries and illnesses promptly and tell each employee how to report work-related injuries and illnesses," according to OSHA's guide for reporting requirements. "In addition, employees, former employees, their personal representatives, and their authorized employee representatives have the right to access the injury and illness records."