New OSHA Rule 2024: Expanding Injury and Illness Data Submission for High-Hazard Industries

The U.S. Department of Labor has recently introduced a groundbreaking rule that expands injury and illness data submission requirements for high-hazard industries. Starting January 1, 2024, certain employers in designated high-risk sectors will be required to electronically submit injury and illness information to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This move aims to promote workplace safety by providing public access to vital information about a company's safety record.

What Does the Final Rule Include?
Under the final rule, establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries are required to electronically submit information from their Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, as well as Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report to OSHA annually. This new requirement is in addition to the existing submission of Form 300A-Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

To improve data quality, establishments are now required to include their legal company name when making electronic submissions to OSHA from their injury and illness records.

Why is Public Access to this Data Important?
OSHA plans to publish some of the collected data on its website, making it accessible to employers, employees, potential employees, employee representatives, customers, researchers, and the general public. This public access to workplace safety and health records will enable informed decision-making and contribute to reducing occupational injuries and illnesses.

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Doug Parker, emphasized that Congress intended the Occupational Safety and Health Act to include reporting procedures that provide insight into workers' safety and health challenges. This new rule represents a significant step toward achieving that objective.

Understanding Recordable Injuries and Illnesses
Employers are required to keep records of serious work-related injuries and illnesses for workplaces with more than ten employees, except for certain low-risk industries. OSHA defines a recordable injury or illness as:

1. Any work-related fatality.
2. Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.
3. Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
4. Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.
5. Special recording criteria for work-related cases involving needlesticks and sharps injuries, medical removal, hearing loss, and tuberculosis.

The Definition of First Aid for Recordkeeping Purposes
OSHA defines first aid as medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes, which includes actions like using non-prescription medication, administering tetanus immunizations, cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds, using wound coverings, applying hot or cold therapy, using non-rigid support, providing temporary immobilization devices during transportation, draining fluid from blisters, and more. If an employee’s medical treatment goes beyond these measures, it needs to be reported.

Maintaining and Posting Records
Employers must maintain injury and illness records at the worksite for at least five years. Additionally, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded in the previous year each February through April. Copies of these records must also be provided to current and former employees or their representatives upon request.

Benefits of the New Requirements
The final rule benefits both OSHA and interested parties such as employers, employees, researchers, and the public. OSHA gains access to establishment-specific, case-specific injury and illness data, enabling targeted interventions to improve workplace safety. Interested parties gain insight into workplace safety records, leading to more informed decisions about potential employers and workplaces. Public access to data ultimately contributes to the reduction of occupational injuries and illnesses.

How to Enhance Your Workplace Safety
The ultimate goal is to have a safer workplace so there are less injuries occurring to report in the first place. Our team here at Clarion Safety Systems can play a significant role, no matter where your organization is on its safety journey. As a leading safety and compliance solutions provider, we offer a range of services and products that can help enhance machine and workplace safety:

1. Compliance Guidance: Our safety experts through Clarion Safety and Machine Safety Specialists have extensive expertise in safety compliance regulations – related to both machine safety and workplaces.
2. Workplace Safety Signage and Labels: We provide a comprehensive range of safety signs, labels, and markings to promote machine and workplace safety. By using standardized and compliant safety signage, employers can enhance employee safety awareness and help prevent accidents.
3. Safety Training: Our engineers at Machine Safety Specialists offer safety training programs designed to educate on machine safety and improving safety in your facility by increasing awareness of modern safety standards, enabling increased use of engineering controls for risk reduction methods. Our trainings are targeted at workplace engineers and risk management professionals to help them safeguard workplace machines and equipment for their users.
4. Safety Consulting Services: Employers can benefit from our safety consulting services, where experts can conduct safety assessments, identify potential hazards, and recommend corrective actions to improve workplace safety.
5. Ongoing Support: As safety regulations evolve, our team provides ongoing support and resources to help employers stay up-to-date with compliance requirements and ensure that they continue to meet the latest safety standards.

If you have a question about any of our products or services, reach out to our team today through email, phone, or our live online chat!