In a fourth quarter press release issued on November 7th, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its proposal of a new rule designed to improve safety accountability in the workplace through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA’s announcement came just a few days after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report. The report estimated that nearly three million workers were injured on the job in 2012. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels, said:
“Three million injuries are three million too many. With the changes being proposed in this rule, employers, employees, the government and researchers will have better access to data that will encourage earlier abatement of hazards and result in improved programs to reduce workplace hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The proposal does not add any new requirement to keep records; it only modifies an employer’s obligation to transmit these records to OSHA.”
OSHA also announced that the public, including all employers and employees, has 90 days to submit written comments and viewpoints on the proposed change. On Jan. 9th, 2014, OSHA held a public meeting in Washington DC to go over the rule in greater detail. Written comments are still being accepted by OSHA up through February 6th, 2014.
Records Already Exist, New Rule will Collect Data Efficiently Using Simple Uploads/Emails
The proposed rule was created to set new standards aimed at helping OSHA to gather more accurate information about electronic submission of establishment-specific injury and illness data. Under current standards, OSHA does not require all employers to submit injury reports electronically. Officials at OSHA have determined that not utilizing readily accessible technology to collect and centralize real data has contributed substantially to underreporting and inaccuracies among current workplace accident and injury statistics.
OSHA proposes to amend the existing recordkeeping regulations to include a more definitive requirement for the electronic submission of injury and illness information employers are already required to keep on file under the current standards, Part 1904. The first proposed new requirement applies to organizations with more than 250 employees (those already required to maintain current records) to electronically submit their records to OSHA on quarterly intervals.
For establishments with 20 or more employees, particularly those deemed as industries with high injury and illness rates; OSHA proposes an annual electronic submission requirement of summary reports of work-related injuries and illnesses. Currently, some of these particular organizations already report this information to OSHA under OSHA’s Data Initiative.
About Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. Those interested in learning more about OSHA or the proposed electronic reporting requirement can click here to visit OSHA.
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