Serious Injury
“Serious injuries must be reported to the Safety Loss Control Division Immediately. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements may result in a civil penalty of not less than $5,000.”
What is considered a "serious injury"
“Serious injury or illness” means any injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with any employment that requires inpatient hospitalization for other than medical observation or diagnostic testing, or in which an employee suffers an amputation, the loss of an eye, or any serious degree of permanent disfigurement, but does not include any injury or illness or death caused by an accident on a public street or highway, unless the accident occurred in a construction zone.
On weekends, holidays, and evenings, report serious employee workplace fatalities, injuries requiring hospitalization or an ambulance to the Safety Loss Control Division at (951) 955-3520.
A serious work-related injury or illness is defined as one involving one or more of the following:
- inpatient hospitalization, regardless of length of time, for other than medical observation or diagnostic testing;
- amputation;
- loss of an eye; or
- serious degree of permanent disfigurement.
The following types of incidents that result in a serious injury, illness, or death have been added to the reporting requirement:
- Accidents that occur in a construction zone on a public street or highway
- Work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths caused by the commission of a Penal Code violation (e.g. workplace violence)
Note: An injury or death caused by an accident on a public street or highway (not in a construction zone) is still exempt from this reporting requirement.
If you are unsure if the injury/ illness meets the criteria to be considered “serious,” please give us a call so we can answer any questions you may have.
The Safety Loss Control Division will obtain all required information from the department regarding the injury/ illness. Our division will ensure it is reported to the local Cal/ OSHA District office within the required time frame.
Note: Employers are required to report fatalities and serious injuries to Cal/OSHA as soon as possible, but no later than 8 hours after the incident.
Cal/ OSHA regulation 3324 requires specific information be provided to Cal/OSHA at the time of report. This information includes:
- Time and date of accident.
- Employer's name, address and telephone number.
- Name and job title, or badge number of person reporting the accident.
- Address of site of accident or event.
- Name of person to contact at site of accident.
- Name and address of injured employee(s).
- Nature of injury.
- Location where injured employee(s) was (were) moved to.
- List and identity of other law enforcement agencies present at the site of accident.
- Description of accident and whether the accident scene or instrumentality has been altered.
Note: Please ensure this information is readily available when calling our Division to report.