New Rule Encourages Transparency in Reporting

By Joanna Sacavitch, Esq.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a final rule dealing with injury reporting and electronic record keeping. This rule, which is designed to strengthen worker protections when it comes to reporting an on-the-job injury or illness, requires the following:

• As of January 1, 2016 employers in certain hazardous industries must electronically submit to OSHA injury and illness data that they are already required to keep under existing regulations. OSHA will post such data on a website that’s accessible to the public, but without identifying the workers.
• Employers must inform employees of their right to report on-the-job injuries and illnesses without fear of retaliation, and that the procedure for reporting such instances should not deter or discourage the reporting. In addition, the rights of employees and their representative to access such records must be clear.    

The goal of the new rule is for employers to make workplace safety more of a priority; the public nature of work injury data would be the impetus. In addition, the rule will enhance OSHA’s efforts to enforcement compliance of workplace safety regulations.

This is very important to many of our clients who work in hazardous places, such as unsafe plants, mines, mills, warehouses, etc. This rule strengthens worker protections around reporting and enables us to better represent our clients.

If you have questions about an on-the-job injury or illness, please contact us at 213-739-7000 or click here.