OSHA Amends Record Keeping Rule

January 31, 2019

Sospes Summary:

OSHA has amended their policy on record keeping by no longer requiring that establishments with 250 or more employees submit their OSHA 300 and 301. However, March 2, 2019, is the deadline for electronically reporting your OSHA Form 300A data for calendar year 2018. Collection began January 2, 2019.

Full announcement:

To protect worker privacy, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is amending the recordkeeping regulation by rescinding the requirement for establishments with 250 or more employees to electronically submit information from OSHA Forms 300 and 301. These establishments will continue to be required to maintain those records on-site, and OSHA will continue to obtain them as needed through inspections and enforcement actions. In addition to reporting required after severe injuries, establishments will continue to submit information from their Form 300A. Such submissions provide OSHA with ample data that it will continue seeking to fully utilize. In addition, OSHA is amending the recordkeeping regulation to require covered employers to submit their Employer Identification Number (EIN) electronically along with their injury and illness data submission, which will facilitate use of the data and may help reduce duplicative employer reporting. Nothing in the final rule revokes an employer’s duty to maintain OSHA Forms 300 and 301 for OSHA inspection. These actions together will allow OSHA to improve enforcement targeting and compliance assistance, decrease burden on employers, and protect worker privacy and safety.

DATES: This final rule becomes effective on February 25, 2019.