What Is OSHA's New Electronic Record-Keeping Rule in 2024?

OSHA announced a new rule for electronic injury and illness recordkeeping which will take effect starting January 1, 2024. The new rule represents an important shift on OSHA’s part toward more transparent reporting of the safety and compliance of private and public companies. Highlights of this rule include:

• Certain establishments with 100-plus employees will be required to submit their OSHA 300 and 301 forms digitally; to date, only OSHA 300A summaries have been required for many organizations. 
• OSHA will post a portion of the data collected from OSHA documents for public viewing on its website, increasing the visibility of safety incidents and the risk of exposure of employees' personal information.
• New industries will now fall under OSHA requirements. These include:
  
  • logging
  • hunting and trapping
  • furniture-related product manufacturing
  • miscellaneous durable goods merchants
  • taxi and limousine services
  • other support activities for transportation

New OSHA electronic recording-keeping rule starting 2024

OSHA’s new electronic recordkeeping rule will impact nearly all establishments with 100-plus employees. In the past, these establishments just had to submit their OSHA 300A Summary once per year. However, with this new rule, starting January 1, 2024, these establishments will be required to submit additional data from OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and Form 301 (Injuries and Illness Incident Report).

Additionally, OSHA intends to make some of this data accessible to the public on its website. Although OSHA has stated they will use scrubbing technology to remove any personally identifiable information, we recommend companies remove sensitive personal information–such as names, date of birth, individual contact information, etc.–when submitting data to OSHA under the new rule. 

According to OSHA, “the benefits of collecting and publishing data for improving safety and health outweigh potential privacy problems.” Those benefits include the ability for OSHA to:

• Identify high-risk workplaces and provide targeted assistance to companies
• Allow researchers to identify workplace injury and illness-related trends
• Determine whether current prevention methods are effective
• Inform job seekers and investors of an establishment’s workplace conditions
• Encourage employers to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses

Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker highlights that "Congress intended for the Occupational Safety and Health Act to include reporting procedures that would provide the agency and the public with an understanding of the safety and health problems workers face, and this rule is a big step in finally realizing that objective.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, we will continue to see workplace safety regulations evolve as OSHA moves toward greater transparency and increased protection of employee welfare. While these new rules necessitate some procedural changes, adhering to OSHA regulations can ensure a safe working environment, reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, and foster a strong safety culture. 

At Align Technologies (formerly ToolWatch), we are dedicated to supporting construction and other industries affected by these changes. We recognize the significance of OSHA compliance and are committed to providing the necessary tools and information to navigate this evolving landscape. As OSHA leads the way toward a safer future, Align is ready to empower your business to thrive in this new era of workplace safety.