Which statement about reporting a fatality to OSHA is true?

• A. It must be reported within 24 hours
• B. It must be reported within 48 hours
• C. It must be reported within 72 hours
• D. It must be reported within 8 hours

Answer: (D)

The main concept is that a work-related fatality must be reported to OSHA within eight hours. This tight window is set so OSHA can quickly learn about the incident and mobilize a rapid response to investigate, identify hazards, and help prevent similar events. Reporting channels include OSHA’s 24/7 hotline or the nearest area office, and the eight-hour limit applies once the employer learns of the fatality.

The other time frames don’t apply to fatalities. They relate to different incident types (for example, some injuries or hospitalizations have a 24-hour reporting window) or are simply not the requirement for a death. If a fatality occurs, eight hours is the correct reporting deadline.