Back in Business: OSHA enforces Recordkeeping rules in January 2015

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) being a federal organization that ensures safe and healthy working conditions has decided to make a comeback in the enforcement business in 2015 by revising its recordkeeping rules. 29 CFR Part 1904 regulations enforce record keeping rules in January 2015 as health issues have been a matter of great concern for OSHA which has been identified as hazardous to workers. The Record Keeping Rules involve two key changes[1]:

i)                   Exempting employers with 10 or fewer employees to routinely maintain records, regardless of their industrial classification.

ii)                  Increasing the list of employers that must report to OSHA in relation to severe work related injuries.

The final rule will allow OSHA to focus on prevention of work related fatalities or serious injuries or illness during work. This will also lay improvement with regard to access about workplace safety and health standards and even increase their ability to abate them.

OSHA will be targeting industries where employees are exposed to OSHA regulated chemicals, such as funeral homes, chemical and product manufacturing plants, hospital and rental care facilities, refineries, grain handlers and retail.

The revised recordkeeping and reporting rules will be effective from January 1, 2015. Previously, employers were required to report about the incident when it involved three or more employees but at present, the new rules have a life saving purpose by taking care of every employee working in the hazardous industries and maintaining health standards for the same.

With effect from January 1, 2015, all employers will have to report all fatalities within 8 hours which are work related, all inpatient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of eye within 24 hours. The reporting is to be done by making a call to their nearest OSHA area office within business hours or by calling their toll free number or report online.[2]

The new OSHA rules would be ensuring a safer environment for workers who are working in hazardous industries and would prove to be a boon for the society.