OSHA Recordkeeping Rule Is Final

OSHA’s electronic reporting rule - “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” – has been released as a final rule.  This rule requires all employers with 250 or more employees, or establishments with 20-250 employees in certain designated industries, who are already required to keep injury and illness records, to electronically submit those records to OSHA. Under this rule OSHA will post the submitted records on a publicly accessible web site. The final rule also re-emphasizes that employers need to inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses free from retaliation; that the procedures for reporting work-related injuries and illnesses must be reasonable and not deter or discourage employees from reporting; and clarifies the rights of employees and their representatives to access the injury and illness records. Section 1904.35, which requires employees to be involved in the recordkeeping system, as well as Section 1904.36 of the final rule which prohibits businesses from retaliating against employees for reporting work related injuries or illnesses, both go into effect on August 10, 2016. The remainder of the final rule goes into effect on January 1, 2017. SGIA continuously participated in stakeholder meetings on this topic and submitted comments in opposition to this rule. SGIA will continue to monitor the impact of this rule for the industry. For a copy of these comments or have any questions, please contact SGIA’s Government Affairs Department at govtaffairs@sgia.org. Sign up to receive the most up-to-date regulatory and legislative information about specialty imaging