R. Alexander Acosta

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced that it is extending a deadline for employers to electronically submit workplace injury and illness data under a final rule that had been released in May 2016.

The former compliance deadline related to Form 300A had been July 1. OSHA has not indicated a new deadline.

Under the final rule, “high-hazard” industries that have 250 or more employees are required to electronically submit to OSHA the injury and illness information that they already collect on OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 every year. Additional businesses may be required to submit the forms as well, if they are notified by OSHA to do so.

Some businesses with 20 to 249 employees are required to electronically submit information from Form 300A only. Among those affected industries identified in Appendix A to Subpart E of Part 1904 of the rule are community care facilities for the elderly (NAICS 6233), other residential care facilities (NAICS 6239) and nursing care facilities (NAICS 6231).

When the rule was announced, OSHA said it planned to post the injury and illness information on its website, with all personally identifiable information removed, to “ ‘nudge’ employers to prevent worker injuries and illnesses to demonstrate to investors, job seekers, customers and the public that they operate safe and well-managed facilities.”

The agency also said it would use the data to target compliance assistance and enforcement resources at establishments where workers are at greatest risk.