[UPDATE] OSHA Proposes Delay for Electronic Injury Reporting Rule

OSHA

OSHA

Since the beginning of the year, OSHA has had a pretty hard time enforcing any of its new rules due to delays.  The silica dust exposure rule was delayed 90 to September 23,  the crane certification rule is facing yet another possible delay, and now the electronic injury reporting rule is facing another delay.  Last week, OSHA announced their proposal to delay the enforcement of the reporting rule from July 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017.

Originally proposed on May 12, 2016, the electronic injury reporting rule immediately sparked controversy among construction industry groups. Several changes and clarifications to the rule can be directly attributed to the push from the industry groups, including the Associated General Contractors of America.

In May of this year, we reported that OSHA’s recordkeeping website added this note: “OSHA is not accepting electronic submissions of injury and illness logs at this time, and intends to propose extending the July 1, 2017 date by which certain employers are required to submit the information from their completed 2016 Form 300A electronically.” At that time, it was unknown how long the delay in the enforcement would be.

In the announcement of the most recent delay. OSHA stated that the delay will “allow OSHA an opportunity to further review and consider the rule” and that it is “appropriate for the purpose of additional review into questions of law and policy.”

OSHA is also requesting comments from the public on the rule, which are due by July 13, 2017.  To do so, you can submit electronically at www.regulations.gov, submit by mail, or find a time machine, go back to 1995 and fax your comments in.

More: US Labor Department’s OSHA proposes to delay compliance date for electronically submitting injury, illness reports |OSHA

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