OSHA to employers: Submit Form 300A data by March 2

Washington – The new deadline to submit 2018 Form 300A data is March 2, OSHA is reminding covered establishments.

The agency’s electronic recordkeeping rule applies to all establishments with at least 250 employees and those with 20 to 249 employees in certain industries with historically high occupational injury and illness rates.

The Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule’s original deadline for data submission was July 1. OSHA later moved that to Dec. 31, 2017, for the rule’s initial 2016 data.

The original rule also required covered establishments with 250-plus employees to submit data from the more detailed Forms 300 and 301, but OSHA officially rolled back those requirements with a final rule published Jan. 25, despite a partial government shutdown that affected publication of the Federal Register.

On that same day, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, the American Public Health Association, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists filed a lawsuit against the rollback. The groups contend that OSHA has not provided “a reasoned explanation for reversing its position regarding the risks and benefits,” which is required, according to Supreme Court precedent.

The lawsuit also states that the agency did not “adequately consider” opposing comments before making its change.