OSHA Issues Final Rule Regarding Injury And Illness Reporting

Yesterday, OSHA issued its long-anticipated final rule regarding injury and illness reporting. The final rule generally requires employers to submit electronically certain injury and illness information. OSHA will place that information on an online searchable database. The final rule also enhances anti-retaliation protections regarding reporting injuries and illnesses in the workplace. OSHA originally proposed the rule in 2013. The proposed rule generated significant interest, with more than 450 comments submitted during the rulemaking process.

The final rule requires the electronic submission–depending on the establishment's size—of certain types of information regarding workplace injuries and illnesses found on OSHA forms already maintained by employers. Establishments with 250 or more employees must provide the most information while establishments with 20-249 employees must provide a more limited set of information. OSHA is phasing in the full reporting