The California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has implemented a new law that penalizes employers who fail to report workplace injuries.

Under Assembly Bill 2837, which became effective on Jan.1, 2003, employers face a minimum penalty of $5,000 if they fail to report fatal or serious injuries to Cal/OSHA within eight hours of their occurrence. Serious injuries include amputated body parts, disfigurement and illnesses that require in-patient hospitalization for more than 24 hours other than for observation.

“We need to investigate all serious accidents and fatalities to ensure employers are maintaining safe work sites. That’s why reporting them is so important,” said Vicky Heza, Cal/OSHA’s chief of enforcement.

The law also imposes a penalty of up to one year in jail or $15,000 on employers, officers, management officials or supervisors who knowingly fail to report an on-site death to Cal/OSHA.

After an accident, employers must immediately report the name and location of the injured person, the nature of the injury or illness, a description of the accident, including its date and time, the employer’s name, address and telephone number and other relevant information to the nearest Cal/OSHA office by phone or fax, said Heza.

Approximately 550 citations are issued each year to employers for failure to report accidents, said Heza.

“This new law is designed to dramatically reduce this number and bring about a greater level of compliance,” she said.

For more information on AB2837, call (800) 963-9424 or visit www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/. —Claudia Figueroa