Where would we be without technology? It’s amazing how far it’s come in such a short amount of time. With these expansive advancements in technology over the last ten years, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that OSHA now requires injury and illness data to be submitted electronically.
But are employers ready? According to a Safety Forms & Technology survey, they should be—77% of participants said they are notified of safety issues via email and 71% use email to share important information with their team. But over half (53.9%) of the participants still primarily use paper forms and the vast majority do not have a mobile safety application in the field.
Under OSHA’s electronic record keeping the final rule, high-hazard companies with 250 employees or more must electronically submit the information they already collect on:
- OSHA Form 300 – Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
- OSHA Form 300A – Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
- OSHA Form 301 – Injury and Illness Incident Report
Other companies may be required to submit these forms electronically as well if they are notified by OSHA to do so. Smaller companies with 20 to 249 employees in certain industries with a high rate of occupational injuries and illnesses are required to submit information electronically from Form 300A only.
There are three options for submitting data on their secure website beginning August 1, 2017:
- Manually enter data into a web form.
- Upload a CSV file to process single or multiple establishments at the same time.
- Allow automated recordkeeping systems to transmit data electronically with an application programming interface.
OSHA has extended the original July 1, 2017 deadline for when employers are required to submit the information from their completed 2016 Form 300As electronically. Companies will now have until December 1, 2017 to provide that data to OSHA. For more information on reporting requirements or to see a list of frequently asked questions, visit the ITA webpage.