Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a proposed rule that would increase electronic reporting requirements for businesses summiting OSHA logs.

Currently, establishments with 250 or more employees, regardless of classification, and establishments with 20-249 employees, classified in certain high hazard industries, must electronically submit their Form 300A Summary to OSHA, annually.

The proposed rule changes would declare that only those in the classified high-hazard industries with 100 or more employees will be required to submit their Form 300A Summary electronically to OSHA. It would also require that Forms 300 and 301 be submitted electronically by these companies, when previously these two forms were to be kept confidential and only available to OSHA upon request.

Classified high hazard establishments with 20-99 employees would still only be required to submit the 300A Summary electronically to OSHA and would not need to electronically submit the 300 and 301 forms.

Under the proposed rule, OSHA would update the industries that are classified as high hazard and need to submit the data electronically.

OSHA has also proposed that company names be included on the electronic submissions. This, along with the injury and employee information that is included on the 300 and 301 forms, raises privacy concerns because this information would be available for public view via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The comment period for the public to voice their concerns ends on May 31, 2022. Information on how to submit comments on the proposed rule can be on the Federal Register.