OSHA Final Rule on Injury Data Collection: New Data Requirements Start January 2017

July 20, 2016 | Staffing Blog

If you follow news about the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, you know changes regarding how employers record and report workplace injuries and illnesses have been undergoing an overhaul.

In May, OSHA issued its final rule on Injury Data Collection, which affects all organizations with 250 or more employees, and in certain industries, employers with 20 or more workers must submit information to comply with the rule. The new requirements are to be phased in beginning in January 2017.

Purpose Behind New OSHA Injury Data Collection & Reporting Rule

Not surprisingly, the purpose behind the new reporting requirements are intended to protect employees. How will reporting requirements help? By reporting and releasing to the public information about injuries and illnesses in hazardous workplaces, OSHA is giving employees an opportunity to do their “due diligence” and find out how well a prospective employer trains and protects its workers. Dr. David Michaels, OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor, says the rule may also “nudge” employers to do a better job of providing safety training and improving workplace conditions in order to attract health- and safety-conscious employees.

Safety training, of course, is only one part of the equation. Effective selection and background screening of employees are the critical first steps you must take to ensure a safe and productive workplace.

To reduce your organization’s risk of workplace accidents, you need to find quality employees who are ready to contribute to your company’s success (and bottom line) and be productive quickly.

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