New Federal Workplace Safety Rules Announced Today
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Wednesday, May 11, finalized a new recordkeeping and reporting rule that requires employers in certain industries to electronically submit injury and illness information, and bars employers from retaliating against workers for reporting such incidents. OSHA will post the data from these submissions on a publicly accessible Web site. According to OSHA, “public disclosure will encourage employers to improve workplace safety and provide valuable information to workers, job seekers, customers, researchers and the general public.” The amount of data submitted will vary depending on the size of company and type of industry. The final rule becomes effective on January 1, 2017, with the anti-retaliation rule going into effect on August 10, 2016. Stay tuned for additional information and analysis as HRLegalist continues to monitor the implementation and effects of the new measures. As always, we recommend that employers consult counsel if they have any questions or concerns related to compliance with these new measures.