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OSHA proposes recordkeeping revision to improve illness data

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting (recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs.

Many employers currently are required to keep a record of workplace injuries and illnesses, including work-related MSDs, on the OSHA Form 300. The proposed rule would require employers to place a check mark in a column for all MSDs they have recorded.

The proposed requirements are identical to those contained in the OSHA recordkeeping regulation issued in 2001. Before 2001, OSHA's injury and illness logs contained a column for repetitive trauma disorders that included noise and MSDs. In 2001, OSHA separated noise and MSDs into two separate columns; however, the MSD column was deleted in 2003 before the provision took effect. OSHA now is proposing to restore the MSD column to the OSHA Form 300 log.

"Restoring the MSD column will improve the ability of workers and employers to identify and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders by providing simple and easily accessible information," says David Michaels, OSHA's assistant secretary of labor. "It also will improve the accuracy and completeness of national work-related injury and illness data."

For more information, view OSHA's proposal at www.dol.gov/federalregister/msdcolumn.

Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed rule electronically at www.regulations.gov; by mailing three copies to the OSHA Docket Office, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210; or by fax at (202) 693-1648 if the comments and attachments do not exceed 10 pages. Comments must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking (Docket Number OSHA-2009-0044).

The deadline for submitting comments is March 15. OSHA will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed rule March 9.

1/31/2010  

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