At a glance
- Reporting procedure and employee rights: 29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(i) to (iv). Reports to OSHA: within 8 hours for a fatality, within 24 hours for an in-patient hospitalization, an amputation or the loss of an eye, 29 CFR 1904.39(a)(1) and (a)(2).
- About 5 minutes: read the script out loud, then ask the three questions.
- FY2025 citations: 29 CFR 1904.39, 801 (241 at construction sites); 29 CFR 1904.35, 4 (0 at construction sites).
- Free PDF: the script, the questions, the rule and a 20-line sign-in sheet. No account, no email.
Read this to your crew
Today is about reporting, and it starts with one conversation: you get hurt, you tell me. Any injury, any illness you think came from the work, even if it seems small, even if you think it will be gone by tomorrow.
Why it matters. A small cut gets infected. A sore back after a lift turns into something worse. A splash in the eye looks fine for an hour. Reported early, these get treated early. Reported late, they get worse, and what happened gets harder to piece together.
Report right away, to me or to whoever runs the site that day. Tell me what happened, where, when, what you were doing and what hurts. If you cannot reach me, call the office. If it is serious, get help first: call 911, then call me.
Reporting is your right, and nobody on this site will punish you for it. Employees have the right to report work-related injuries and illnesses, and employers are prohibited from discharging or discriminating against them for reporting (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iii)). That protection goes with you on every job.
Here is what happens after you report. You get treated. We write down what happened while it is fresh. I look at the cause with you, because the point is fixing whatever hurt you before it hurts someone else. Some cases go on the OSHA log, and a few get reported to OSHA within hours (29 CFR 1904.39(a)(1) and (a)(2)); that part is my job.
Same goes for your coworkers. If you see someone get hurt and they say it is nothing, tell me anyway. Covering for someone is how a small injury becomes a big one.
Three questions for the crew
- Who do you report an injury to on this site, and how do you reach them if they are not here?
Listen for: A name and a phone number. If the crew does not know, write them on the sign-in sheet. - What counts as an injury worth reporting?
Listen for: Every work-related injury or illness, including small cuts, strains, rashes and splashes. Whether it gets recorded is the employer's decision, not the worker's. - What happens to someone who reports an injury?
Listen for: They get care and the cause gets fixed. Nobody is disciplined for reporting (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iv)).
What does OSHA say about reporting injuries?
Employers establish a reasonable procedure for employees to report work-related injuries and illnesses promptly and accurately, and a procedure that would deter or discourage a reasonable employee from reporting is not reasonable (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(i)). Each employee is told how to report (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(ii)), and told that they have the right to report and that employers are prohibited from discharging or discriminating against them for reporting (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iii)).
The employer must not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness (29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iv)).
Some cases go to OSHA directly: a work-related fatality within 8 hours (29 CFR 1904.39(a)(1)), and an in-patient hospitalization, an amputation or the loss of an eye within 24 hours (29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2)).
The paragraphs, word for word:
“(b) Implementation—(1) What must I do to make sure that employees report work-related injuries and illnesses to me? (i) You must establish a reasonable procedure for employees to report work-related injuries and illnesses promptly and accurately. A procedure is not reasonable if it would deter or discourage a reasonable employee from accurately reporting a workplace injury or illness;”
“(iii) You must inform each employee that: (A) Employees have the right to report work-related injuries and illnesses; and (B) Employers are prohibited from discharging or in any manner discriminating against employees for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses; and”
“(iv) You must not discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness.”
How often did OSHA cite these rules in FY2025?
| Standard | Construction sites | Other industries | All FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1904.39Reporting fatalities and severe injuries to OSHA | 241 | 560 | 801 |
| 29 CFR 1904.35Employee involvement and reporting procedure | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Citation items under 29 CFR issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, at federal and State Plan inspections, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Construction means an inspection whose NAICS code starts with 23. The counts describe inspected establishments, not every employer.
What gets reported, to whom and how fast?
| What happened | The worker tells | The employer reports to OSHA |
|---|---|---|
| A cut, strain, rash, splash or any other work-related injury or illness | The supervisor, right away | No call to OSHA; the employer decides whether it goes on the OSHA 300 Log |
| An in-patient hospitalization, an amputation or the loss of an eye | 911 if needed, then the supervisor, right away | Within 24 hours (29 CFR 1904.39(a)(2)) |
| A work-related death | 911, then the supervisor | Within 8 hours (29 CFR 1904.39(a)(1)) |
| A near miss: nobody hurt | The supervisor, the same day | No report to OSHA; see the near miss talk |