OMB completes review of OSHA’s proposed rule on Dec. 1 deadline for electronic submission of injury, illness data

Washington – OSHA is on the verge of officially pushing to Dec. 1 the compliance date for employers to electronically submit injury and illness data.

The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, part of the Office of Management and Budget, completed its review of OSHA’s Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule on Nov. 17. The remaining step would be publication of a final rule in the Federal Register.

OSHA first proposed the delay in June to allow the Trump administration time to review the electronic reporting requirements and become more familiar with the reporting system. The original compliance date was July 1.

Under the regulation, establishments with 250 or more workers are required to electronically submit OSHA’s Form 300A. OSHA would then make the information public on its website.

In a hearing before the House Education and the Workforce Committee on Nov. 15, Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta said OSHA is working to refine the rule.

“We are balancing the issues of privacy – because it was asking for some information that was very detailed and that identified individuals – with the needs (sic) to get information so that we can engage in appropriate and targeted enforcement,” he said.