|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
The most dangerous workplaces will now be better
identified through data collected by the Labor Department's OSHA. The agency
announced today it will begin collecting injury and illness data from 80,000
employers in high hazard industries. At the same time, OSHA, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, will propose revised rules for recording and
reporting workplace deaths, injuries and illnesses. The revisions are aimed at
simplifying the reporting and recordkeeping system and improving future use of
the data.
Illness and Injury Data
In February, injury and illness report forms will be
mailed to individual workplaces requesting data from 1995. The data will be
used to expand on OSHA's Maine 200 program, a workplace-specialized safety and
health pilot already tested in Maine. Use of this information will allow the
agency to deal with each workplace as a unique environment with its own
workplace problems and solutions, instead of using a one-size-fits-all
approach. (See attached fact sheet for a list of industries included in the
OSHA data initiative.)
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Joseph A. Dear said, "These steps are an important part of OSHA's
reinvention efforts to become a data-driven, results oriented organization."
Peg Seminario, director of the Department of Occupational
Safety and Health, AFL-CIO, said, "The AFL-CIO is pleased that OSHA's
recordkeeping rule and data initiative are moving forward. This is the result
of more than 10 years of joint effort by OSHA, labor and management. We hope
that these initiatives will improve data on work-related injuries and illnesses
and provide information that can be used by OSHA and others to identify and
address the serious safety and health problems that put workers in danger."
The OSHA data initiative uses information from the current
recordkeeping system. OSHA is also working to improve the data for future use
by revising its injury and illness recordkeeping rule.
Recordkeeping Proposal
OSHA will give the public a chance to make oral
presentations and/or submit written comments on its proposal to change the way
injury and illness data is recorded and reported. The public meetings will be
held March 26-28 in the Francis Perkins Building auditorium, 200 Constitution
Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. Written comments on the proposal are due by April
29.
Dear called the proposed regulation a comprehensive
revision of the system. "It simplifies the reporting process for employers and
also improves the quality and accuracy of the safety and health information
available for OSHA, employers and workers," he said. "It's a win-win
proposition."
OSHA officials estimate the proposed recordkeeping rule
will reduce the regulatory burden to businesses by $4.7 million. OSHA has
incorporated comments from labor, industry, trade associations, and other
government agencies into the proposed rulemaking.
Dear said reliable data is a cornerstone in changing the
agency's performance measurements from activity-based, such as numbers of
inspections and violations, to one focused on the ultimate outcome of reducing
workplace injuries and illnesses. He added that this is just one of many OSHA
reinvention initiatives that make it easier for employers to have a safe and
healthy workplace.
The proposed recordkeeping regulation reduces the size and
complexity of the Supplementary Record of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
(OSHA No. 101 form) and the Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and
Illnesses (OSHA No. 200 form). It also changes recordkeeping exemptions for
smaller employers and service and retail industries and improves opportunities
for employers to automate their records. Additionally, it will merge
recordkeeping regulations, guidelines and interpretations into one single
reference document.
The recordkeeping proposal will be published in the
January 30 Federal Register. It can also be accessed by going to OSHA's World
Wide Web Home Page at http://www.osha.gov/ and accessing the "What's New"
section.
Bill Ament, consultant at the Organization of Resource
Counselors (ORC), said his organization is encouraged by OSHA's progress in
amending its injury and illness recordkeeping regulations and guidelines. "By
bringing interested parties from both business and labor together with OSHA
staff and allowing extensive prepublication review of the agency's proposal,
key issues were identified and addressed. We hope that OSHA and other
regulatory agencies will adopt this more open process and that it will become a
prototype for future regulatory actions."
Notices of intention to appear at the public meetings for
the recordkeeping proposal must be sent to Tom Hall, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, Division of Consumer Affairs, Room N3647, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210,
telephone (202) 219-8615. The notification should include the name and
organization of the speaker, the amount of time required, and a brief summary
of the presentation.
Notifications must be postmarked by March 5.
Written comments on the proposal must be postmarked by
April 29 and submitted in quadruplicate to the Docket Office, Docket No. R-02,
Room N2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., 20210, telephone (202) 219-7894.
The text of this news release is available from the
Department of Labor electronic bulletin board, LABOR NEWS, at 202-219-4784.
Callers must pay any toll-call charges. 300, 1200, 2400, 9600 or 14,400 BAUD;
Parity: None; Data Bits = 8; Stop Bit = 1; Voice phone: 202-219-8831.
The text is also on the Internet World Wide Web at
http://www.osha.gov/ in the "What's New" section.
OSHA news releases, fact sheets and other short documents
also are available by fax at 1-900-555-3400 for a nominal charge of $1.50 per
minute.
Information on this news release will be made available to
sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-219-8151.
FACT SHEET
INDUSTRIES INCLUDED IN OSHA'S DATA INITIATIVE
Firms with 60 or more employees in the following industries are included in the OSHA data
initiative. Workplaces in these categories will receive a form requesting data from the 1995
OSHA 200 Log, employment and hours worked. Employers should not send the information to
OSHA unless they receive a form.
SIC code Industry
20-39 MANUFACTURING
0783 ORNAMENTAL SHRUB AND TREE SERVICES
4214 LOCAL TRUCKING WITH STORAGE
4215 COURIER SERVICES, EXCEPT BY AIR
4220 PUBLIC WAREHOUSING AND STORAGE
4491 MARINE CARGO HANDLING
4580 AIRPORTS, FLYING FIELDS, & SERVICES
4783 PACKING AND CRATING
4953 REFUSE SYSTEMS
5051 WHOLESALE METALS SERVICE CENTERS AND OFFICES
5093 WHOLESALERS OF SCRAP AND WASTE MATERIALS
5140 WHOLESALERS OF GROCERIES AND RELATED PRODUCTS
5180 WHOLESALERS OF BEER, WINE, AND DISTILLED BEVERAGES
5210 RETAILERS OF LUMBER AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS
8050 NURSING AND PERSONAL CARE FACILITIES
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
