New OSHA Reporting Rules to Electronically Track Workplace Injuries

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA), has implemented a new rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. Employers are already required to have a reasonable procedure for employees to promptly and accurately report work-related injuries and illnesses. By January 1, 2017, covered employers (those with 250 or more employees in industries covered by the recordkeeping regulation) must begin electronically submitting the injury and illness reporting forms to OSHA, and OSHA will publish the results on a website open to the public.

OSHA’s stated purpose for requiring this new reporting is that analysis of the data will enable OSHA to use its enforcement and compliance assistance resources more efficiently. Some of the data will also be posted to the OSHA website because OSHA believes that public disclosure will encourage employers to improve workplace safety and provide valuable information to workers, job seekers, customers, researchers and the general public.

For more information, refer to OSHA’s website: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/finalrule/