On July 17, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an expansion to occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation. The final rule requires additional categories of employers to electronically report select injury and illness information from their existing required records.
Starting on January 1, 2024, the following submission requirements will take effect:
- In specific high-risk sectors identified in Appendix B*, companies employing 100 or more individuals are obligated to electronically submit data extracted from their Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) as well as Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) to OSHA on an annual basis. These electronic submissions must be completed in addition to submitting Form 300-A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses).
- In order to enhance data accuracy, it will now be mandatory for establishments to disclose their official legal business name while transmitting electronic records of injuries and illnesses to OSHA. Once the final rule expansion takes effect, employers will have until March 2, 2024, to submit the required information to OSHA.
►Goals of the Final Rule Expansion
OSHA intends to release some of the collected injury and illness information on its website, www.osha.gov. This aims to enable employers, employees, prospective workers, representatives of employees, current and potential clientele, researchers, and the broader public to access and utilize details pertaining to a company’s track record in terms of workplace safety and health. By facilitating such transparency, OSHA anticipates a decline in instances of occupational injuries and illnesses.
►Background
OSHA requires most employers to keep yearly logs of all work-related injuries and illnesses in accordance with 29 CFR part 1904. These logs are known as the OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300-A.
Form 300:
The OSHA Form 300 is a form for employers to document all reportable workplace injuries and illnesses. This form captures essential details such as the identity and job role of the affected employee, the location and timing of the incident, a description of the injury or illness, and the duration of work absence or modified duties, if applicable.
Form 301:
Form 301 is known as the Injury and Illness Incident Report and includes more information about the affected employee, information regarding the healthcare professional who treated the resulting injury or illness, and more detailed information about how and where each injury or illness occurred.
Form 300-A:
Form 300-A is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illness. This form includes general information about an employer’s workplace and records the total number of different types of injury or illness cases that have occurred. At the end of each calendar year, Form 300-A must be completed and certified by a company executive as correct and complete, and posted in the workplace for a duration of three months.
For more information, or for assistance in completing and submitting required Workplace Injury and Illness Forms to OSHA, contact NV5 at 562.495.5777 or Environmental@NV5.com.
*Appendix B to Subpart E of part 1904 is a new list of industries by NAICS codes.