The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule on reporting workplace illnesses and injuries. Under the new rule, organizations with 250 or more employees, in industries that are covered by the recordkeeping regulation, must electronically submit injury and illness information from OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 to OSHA. Establishments with 20-249 employees, in certain industries, must electronically submit information on Form 300A only. Additionally, under the new rule, employers in high-hazard industries will send OSHA injury and illness data that the employers are already required to collect for posting on the agencies website. 

The final rule also promotes an employee's right to report injuries and illnesses without fear of retaliation and clarifies that an employer must have a reasonable procedure for reporting work-related injuries that does not discourage employees from reporting. This aspect of the rule targets employer programs and policies that, while nominally promoting safety, have the effect of discouraging workers from reporting injuries which, in turn leads to incomplete or inaccurate records of workplace hazards. An example of such a program is offering a monetary incentive for meeting safety goals, thus discouraging reporting. 

The new requirements take effect Aug. 10, 2016, with data submissions beginning in 2017. These requirements do not add to or change an employer's obligation to complete and retain injury and illness records under the Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation. 

Please contact Trent Blake, Director of Health, Safety & Security Services, at tblake@keramida.com if you have any questions about how this new rule will impact your organization. 

Blog Author

Trent Blake, ASP
Director of Security, Health & Safety Services
KERAMIDA Inc.

Contact Trent at tblake@keramida.com