OSHA & Reporting Heart Attacks in Illinois

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a federal regulatory body. OSHA rules that apply to reporting a heart attack in Illinois apply to all other states. There are differences in procedures depending on whether or not the person passed away.

General Rules

• In Illinois, as in any other state in the U.S., a fatality resulting from a heart attack at or related to the workplace must be reported to OSHA. The report must be made over the phone or in person no later than eight hours after its occurrence. Similar rules apply for any scenario in which three or more employees are hospitalized.

High-Hazard Industries

• Employers in an industry that OSHA considers high-hazard are required to record all the injuries and illnesses relating to the staff. OSHA stipulates that these records be made available to or posted for the employees every year between February 1st and April 30th. This includes heart attacks that occur at the job site or as a result of the job.

Exceptions

• A business that employs fewer than 10 people may not have to keep health records for the staff. However, the company may be approached by OSHA to engage in a data collection effort that includes those health records. The company does not have the option to refuse participation.