OSHA has issued a final rule regarding record-keeping of workplace illnesses and injuries. The final rule's amendments clarify employers' obligations, but they do not add any additional compliance requirements.
The final rule reads, "The duty to record an injury or illness continues for as long as the employer must keep records of the recordable injury or illness; the duty does not expire just because the employer fails to create the necessary records when first required to do so."
"This rule simply returns us to the standard practice of the last 40 years," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "It is important to keep in mind that accurate records are not just paperwork; they have a valuable and potentially life-saving purpose."
The final rule will be effective January 18, 2017.
For more information, see the full news release at OSHA's website.
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