The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued

a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in relation to the ongoing requirement to create and maintain

accurate records in relation to work-related injuries and illnesses. This notice clarifies an

employer’s perpetual obligation to create and maintain an accurate record of every recordable

injury and illness. These records are required to be maintained for a five-year period.

“Accurate records are not simply paperwork, but have an important, in fact life-saving purpose,”

said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “They

will enable employers, employees, researchers and the government to identify and eliminate the

most serious workplace hazards – ones that have already caused injuries and illnesses to occur.”

This proposal could have significant impact on many businesses. And, as it is a purely clerical

change, it should be easy to adapt to the changes. Unfortunately, many companies fail to make

small clerical updates, which can create a significant risk for the company in relation to audits,

fees, and citations. For these reasons, it is advisable to contact a third party occupational safety

and health auditing firm to ensure you have properly accounted for any needed changes. Should

a change be needed, the sooner you find it, the easier it is to correct.

If you have any questions about how this notice impacts your business, please contact is. If you

have anything to add about this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued by OSHA, please leave a

comment.