House bill would expand OSHA recordkeeping requirements

Washington – Legislation recently introduced in the House would require employers to record all employee injuries and illnesses at their worksite, regardless of who directly employs the workers.

Introduced Jan. 4 by Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), the bill concerns “site-controlling” employers, defined as the employer with primary control over work and who supervises employees on a daily basis at a particular worksite. If the bill is passed, OSHA would be directed to revise its recording and reporting rules to require site-controlling employers to log all work-related injuries of any employee who is at the site, including their own employees and those directly employed by others, such as contractors, temporary help or employee-leasing services.

At press time, the bill had been referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee.