Last year, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized two rules that will go into effect in 2017. The first is the long awaited
Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection Systems rule. The new rule is for "general industry" and aligns many standards already in place for construction. The rule outlines fall protections in specific situations, fall protection equipment/options, and inspection requirements. Please find our in-depth summary
here.
The second is an electronic recordkeeping rule for workplace injuries and illnesses. Certain employers are now required to submit injury and illness data electronically. The injury and illness data is already required pursuant to the Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation and are annually submitted through
Forms 300, 300A and 301. The change is a new and required electronic submission process that will enable OSHA to use its enforcement and compliance resources more efficiently.