The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently updated its recordkeeping rule. The rule expands the list of severe work-related injuries that all employers must report to OSHA. Under the new reporting requirements establishments with 20 – 249 employees must electronically submit information only from the OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. For those employer’s with 250 employees or more, must electronically submit to OSHA injury and illness information from OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 forms.

Submission of this data electronically will enable the public to access this data.  In addition, it will also assist employers to review their own performance and compare against industry and to enhance their own safety programs and procedures.

The Federal changes will be effective August 10, 2016 and data submission will begin in 2017.  Along with the electronic submission of injury and illness date, employers are still required to complete the accident report and investigation, and record injuries and illnesses on the OSHA Log 300 and Summary 300A forms.

The Cal/OSHA Standards Board will have to adopt requirements that are identical to the Federal requirements within 6 months after publication of OSHA final rule.  WAPA will be monitoring the rulemaking advisory committee meetings and any proposed regulations regarding this change for our members.