Thoughts on OSHA's proposed new rule for improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses

See the full news release from OSHA here.

After the release of the 2012 Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report was released earlier this month, OSHA posted a news release about a proposed new rule relating to record keeping.

The 2012 Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report estimated that 3 million workers were injured on the job during 2012. 

In the proposed rule, OSHA wants to add a requirement for businesses with more than 250 employees, who already keep records of workplace injuries and illnesses, to electronically submit their injury and illness records to OSHA each quarter.  OSHA also wants to add a requirement for businesses with 20 or more employees in high-hazard industries to submit their summary of work-related injuries and illnesses (OSHA Form 300A) electronically every year.

These efforts to improve the transparency of government are interesting.

From a faculty/educator perspective, if the government is able to publish the injury and illness data more than once per year, it will allow safety and industrial hygiene students and educators to focus their attention and perhaps lead to some interesting research or meta-analyses.