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OSHA issues final rule clarifying the ongoing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses .

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday will issue a final rule that clarifies an employer’s continuing obligation to make and maintain an accurate record of each recordable injury and illness. The final rule becomes effective Jan. 18, 2017.

OSHA’s longstanding position has been that an employer’s duty to record an injury or illness continues for the full five-year record-retention period, and this position has been upheld by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission in cases dating back to 1993. In 2012, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in AKM LLC v. Secretary of Labor (Volks) reversing the Commission and rejecting OSHA’s position on the continuing nature of its prior recordkeeping regulations. 

The new final rule more clearly states employers’ obligations. “This rule simply returns us to the standard practice of the last 40 years,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “It is important to keep in mind that accurate records are not just paperwork; they have a valuable and potentially life-saving purpose.”

The amendments in the final rule add no new compliance obligations and do not require employers to make records of any injuries or illnesses for which records are not already required.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare: OSHA Public Meeting and Request for Information

OSHA recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) on preventing workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance settings and announced a public stakeholder meeting on January 10, 2017 for interested parties. The RFI was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2016 to solicit more detailed information on topics such as effective strategies for reducing incidents of violence in various healthcare and social assistance settings. The stakeholder meeting is intended to supplement written comments by allowing workers to share their personal experiences with workplace violence. Additional sessions will focus on both challenges and success stories from businesses, workers, their representatives, and experts.  For more information, see the OSHA news release.

Request for Information:  This was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2016.  Comments and materials may be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or via mail, facsimile or hand delivery.  The submission deadline is April 4, 2017.  Check the OSHA website for a link to the Federal Register Notice. 

Public Meeting:  January 10, 2017 from 9am to 5pm eastern at the Department of Labor’s Frances Perkins Building in Washington D.C.  To register and for more information go to: https://projects.erg.com/conferences/osha/register-osha-workplace-violence-meeting.html.

This information was provided by: OSHA

OSHA released a General Industry Fall Protection Rule!

Most of the rule will become effective 60 days (January 2017) after publication in the Federal Register, but some provisions have delayed effective dates, including:
 

Ensuring exposed workers are trained on fall hazards (6 months),
 

Ensuring workers who use equipment covered by the final rule are trained (6 months),
 

Inspecting and certifying permanent anchorages for rope descent systems (1 year),
 

Installing personal fall arrest or ladder safety systems on new fixed ladders over 24 feet and on replacement ladders/ladder sections, including fixed ladders on outdoor advertising structures (2 years),
 

Ensuring existing fixed ladders over 24 feet, including those on outdoor advertising structures, are equipped with a cage, well, personal fall arrest system, or ladder safety system (2 years), and
 

Replacing cages and wells (used as fall protection) with ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet (20 years).

Private classses are available and will cover the new General industry OSHA standard and other fall hazards in industry. Students will receive a copy of the new standard and a picture ID completion card. 

Call Callie Cordoba, Operations Manager at 708-449-8600 to schedule your private class today. 

Check our website at www.buildsafe.org for more class dates.