OSHA

In May 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule to modernize injury data collection to better inform workers, employers, the public and OSHA about workplace hazards. With this new rule, OSHA is applying the insights of behavioral economics to improve workplace safety and prevent injuries and illnesses.

The new rule, which took effect Jan. 1, 2017, requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data that they are already required to record on their onsite OSHA Injury and Illness forms.

OSHA Webinar

OSHA Penalty Adjustments

Webpage
§ 1903.15
Effective: August 1, 2016
Fact Sheet
Annual adjustment for inflation, January 15, each year: 1.01636/Jan 2017

Incident Investigations (OSHA does not use the word accident anymore).

OSHA, Incident [Accident] Investigations: A Guide for Employers
OSHA Fact Sheet (OSHA FS 3895 – 2016), Root Cause: The Importance of Root Cause Analysis During Incident Investigation.
The National Safety Council, How to Conduct an Incident Investigation

Reporting Requirement (in-patient hospitalization, amputation, loss of an eye).

1904.39
Effective: January 1, 2015
Fact Sheet: Updates to OSHA’s Recordkeeping Rule: Reporting Fatalities and Severe Injuries, Link.

Final Rule to Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses (employee involvement/discrimination/incentive programs/drug testing/electronic reporting (20 to 249, 250+)).

Rule filed: May 11, 2016
Effective: Originally: Aug 10, 2016, but delayed certain sections [(1904.35(b)(1)(i)), ((b)(1)(ii)-(iii)) and ((b)(1)(iv))] until Nov 1, 2016 then until Dec 1, 2016.
Webpage
Final Rule (plus corrected text)
1904.35 Employee Involvement
1904.36 Prohibition against discrimination
Electronic Submission of Injury and Illness Records
- 1904.41 and 1904.41 App A.
- Webpage: Electronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA. Effective on January 1, 2017. 300A by July 1, 2017. 2017 forms (300A, 300, and 301) by July 1, 2018. Beginning in 2019 submit the information by March 2.
- Fact sheet 3862
Original Q&A
New Q&A Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – Employee’s right to report injuries and illnesses free from retaliation

OSHA issues final rule clarifying the ongoing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses

1904.33
Effective: Jan 18, 2017
Trade Release
Final Rule

OSHA OFFICE CONTACTS:

Main: 1-800-321-6742

Allentown Area Office
Jean Kulp
(267) 429-7542

Erie Area Office
Brendan Claybaugh
(814) 874-5150

Harrisburg Area Office
Dave Olah
(717) 782-3902

Philadelphia Area Office
Theresa Downs
(215) 597-4955

Pittsburgh Area Office
Christopher Robinson
(412) 395-4903

Wilkes-Barre Area Office
Mark Stelmack
(570) 826-6538