Accident Investigation

Does OSHA require you to preserve the accident scene after a workplace death?

The federal fatality-reporting rule, 29 CFR 1904.39, imposes no general scene-freeze requirement. State rules, preservation orders and litigation duties can still require evidence to remain in place. The death is reported within eight hours (29 CFR 1904.39), and employers who keep injury records save the 301 and the 300 Log for five years after the end of the year they cover (29 CFR 1904.33). Oregon bars disturbing the scene of a fatality or catastrophe, Washington bars moving the equipment involved, and mines have their own rule (30 CFR 50.12).