ASSE Urges OSHA to Withdraw Electronic Reporting Proposed Rule

In comments submitted for the record, ASSE urged OSHA to withdraw its proposed rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, until it develops clearer objectives and a stronger rationale for requiring establishments with 250 or more employees to submit quarterly electronically their injury and illness records and summary data annually; establishments with 20 or more employees to submit electronically the annual summary form; and certain employers to submit electronically other information on notification from OSHA.

In its comments, ASSE stated that it did not believe OSHA has explained adequately how collecting the information will actually improve workplace safety or how OSHA will manage the information collected. ASSE also said that publishing the information collected will hinder efforts by EHS professionals to focus companies on preventing hazards rather than reporting of injuries. On Jan. 9, ASSE Government Affairs Committee Chair James Thornton shared similar comments during OSHA’s public meeting on the proposed rule.