Following months of uncertainty surrounding the compliance date of OSHA’s Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses rule, the agency has officially launched its Injury Tracking Application (ITA). Employers covered by the new rule are now required to electronically submit the injury and illness data from their completed OSHA Forms annually.
With the first submission deadline now less than six months away on December 1, 2017, covered employers should use this time to better understand how the new rule affects them and familiarize themselves with this new electronic reporting system. Here, we break-down the new requirements to help address any lingering questions or confusion employers may still have.
What is the final rule?
The new rule, which took effect Jan. 1, 2017, requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data that they are already required to record on their onsite OSHA Injury and Illness forms. Analysis of this data enables OSHA to use its enforcement and compliance assistance resources more efficiently. Some of the data will also be posted to the OSHA website, where the agency hopes that public disclosure will encourage employers to improve workplace safety and provide valuable information to workers, job seekers, customers, researchers and the general public.
Who is covered by the rule?
Establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses.
What does the rule require covered employers to do?
For 2016 reporting, all covered establishments must submit required data from their OSHA 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) forms to OSHA via the ITA by December 1, 2017. Next year, covered establishments with 250 or more employees must submit information from their 300A forms as well as their 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) forms through the ITA by July 1, 2018, while covered establishments with between 20 and 249 employees will still only need to submit the 300A information by that date. Beginning in 2019 and every year thereafter, reporting requirements will be identical but covered establishments will need to submit the information by March 2.
How do I submit the data?
The secure website offers three options for data submission. The first option enables users to manually enter data into a web form, the second lets users upload a CSV file to process single or multiple establishments at the same time, and a third option allows users of automated recordkeeping systems to transmit data electronically via an application programming interface. OSHA also intends to provide an interface for entering data from a mobile device.
Let VelocityEHS Help
While the final rule does not require employers to adopt an electronic system to record occupational injuries and illnesses, EHS management software with the ability to export or transmit data in a standard format that meets OSHA’s specifications can significantly streamline the electronic submission process. The VelocityEHS Incident Management solution makes it easy for you and your employees to more accurately record workplace incidents, near-misses and hazards of all types, and generate regulatory documents, including OSHA forms 300, 300A, 301. Recent updates to our report scheduling and location tagging tools give VelocityEHS users expanded control and visibility of operational risks and compliance requirements on a site-by-site basis. These updates also help users generate properly formatted injury and illness summary reports for quicker electronic submission using OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application.
Our mobile app also enables all employees to report incidents from anywhere via their wireless devices, removing reporting barriers and helping you achieve the timely and accurate reporting you need. With these tools in place, you’ll be better prepared to comply with OSHA’s electronic recordkeeping rule, and ready to manage incident reporting like a true EHS leader.
