OSHA Moves Forward for Electronic Injury Reporting Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is moving forward with a rule that requires employers to electronically submit reports involving worker injuries.

Injury reporting is an essential component of maintaining a safe workplace. When injuries go unreported, neither the employer nor OSHA can make the necessary changes to correct the problem and prevent future instances of the respective injury from occurring.

As explained by OSHA, millions of workers in the United States sustain serious injury and illness on the job. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to create a safe workplace that's free of serious hazards for their workers. And for decades, OSHA has required employers to keep track of work-related injuries and illnesses by recording them in an OSHA log. But the requirements for injury reporting is about change thanks to a new final rule being prepared by OSHA.

The final rule has already been given the green light by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. OSHA had originally planned for the new rule to take effect in July. However, the White House wanted time to review the requirements. As a result, OSHA postponed its compliance date. Well, it appears that OSHA's final rule on electronic injury reporting is one step closer to becoming a reality, as the White House has given it the green light.

"We are balancing the issues of privacy – because it was asking for some information that was very detailed and that identified individuals – with the needs (sic) to get information so that we can engage in appropriate and targeted enforcement,”said Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta in a statement.

Among other things, the new rule requires employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA. Businesses with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, for instance, must submit those records electronically. And businesses with 20 to 249 employees that operate in high-risk industries must submit information from OSHA Form 300A. Once OSHA has collected this information, it will publish it on its website.

Submitting worker injury and illness information may sound like a burden, but it's a necessary step in creating a safe workplace. If incidents go unreported, employers will probably experience higher rates of worker injuries and illnesses, which will subsequently cost them time, money and resources. So, while reporting injuries takes time, it's a small price to pay considering the risk reduction benefits it offers.

You can learn more about OSHA's fine rule on electronic injury reporting by visiting https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3862.pdf.