OSHA recently announced that it was issuing a proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. Under the proposed rule, establishments with more than 250 employees will be required to submit injury and illness information to OSHA electronically on a quarterly basis. 

OSHA is also proposing that establishments with 20 or more employees, in certain industries with high injury and illness rates, be required to submit electronically only their summary of work-related injuries and illnesses to OSHA once a year. Currently, many such firms report this information to OSHA under OSHA’s Data Initiative.

OSHA plans to eventually post the data online. It is thought that timely, establishment-specific injury and illness data will help OSHA target its compliance assistance and enforcement resources more effectively by identifying workplaces where workers are at greater risk, and enable employers to compare their injury rates with others in the same industry.

The public will have until February 6, 2014 to submit written comments on the proposed rule. On January 9, 2014, OSHA will hold a public meeting on the proposed rule in Washington, D.C.