OSHA final rule changes federal agency recordkeeping requirements

Washington – All federal agencies will be required to annually submit injury and illness data to OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under a new final rule published Aug. 5.

OSHA said having the information – which federal agencies already are required to collect – will allow the agency to analyze injuries and illnesses among federal workers and develop programs to help meet workplace safety targets outlined in the Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Re-employment Initiative. The POWER Initiative sets targets for reducing and analyzing injury and illness rates among federal workers and shortening time to return to work after an injury for fiscal years 2011-2014.

The new rule, scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2014, also amends the dates for submitting data, explains how to record injuries and illnesses for volunteers and contract employees, and clarifies the definition of a federal establishment.