OSHA Launches Electronic Portal for Injury and Illness Records

On Aug. 1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched the Injury Tracking Application, which is the web-based form employers can use to submit their injury and illness data. The launch comes right after OSHA closed the comment period on delaying the electronic reporting portion of the final rule, “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses,” from July 1 to Dec. 1, 2017. On Aug. 16, OSHA shut down the website for a brief period of time after the Homeland Security Department informed the agency of the potential compromise of a user’s information.

Employers should understand that while OSHA has launched its website, they are not required to submit their data there until Dec. 1, 2017. The administration has announced that it intends to issue a proposed rule that will reconsider, revise or remove provisions of the final rule in October.

More information on the final rule can be found on OSHA’s webpage.

By Don Moen