Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposes to revise Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the supplemental recordkeeping instructions, and replace the recordkeeping forms. This revision is expected to result in: a greatly simplified injury and illness recordkeeping system for employers, improved information concerning occupational injuries and illnesses, increased utility of the injury and illness records at the establishment/site level, increased use of modern technology, including computers and telecommunications equipment, and improved employee awareness and involvement. This rulemaking is part of the overall effort to simplify and revise Part 1904. One section, Reporting of Fatality or Multiple Hospitalization Incidents, was revised in a separate rulemaking. The text of the revised Sec. 1904.8, which became effective May 2, 1994, is included in this proposal as section 1904.12 due to reorganization of the various sections of Part 1904. However, Sec. 1904.12 in this proposal includes three additional changes which are intended to further clarify the earlier revision. Also included in this rulemaking is the revision of 29 CFR 1952.4. Sec. 1952.4 establishes the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for States that have their own occupational safety and health programs and have been approved by OSHA to enforce safety and health regulations in their State. The revision of this section is a clarification of the requirements based on the existing interpretation of the current Sec. 1952.4.