Access to Information: OSHA Plans to Make Workplace Safety Reports Public

From the Associated Press:

Large companies would have to commence filing all workplace injury and illness reports electronically so they can be posted online and made available to the public, under new regulations the government proposed Thursday.
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The agency said it would “eventually” post the data online, though it didn’t say how quickly that would happen. Given OSHA’s limited resources, the new filing procedures would help OSHA target its enforcement more effectively where workers are at greatest risk, the agency said.
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Celeste Monforton, a lecturer at George Washington University’s School of Public Health who specializes in work health and safety policy, said mining companies have had their injury reports posted online for years on the Mining Safety and Health Administration’s website. That has allowed the public and employers to compare safety records and has pressured some companies to improve.

 Read the Complete Article

• Additional Info (via OSHA)

• Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Rulemaking Web Page

• FAQ

• Full Text of Proposed Rule (via Federal Register)

 Additional Resources

• OSHA Searchable Database/Statistics Online

• Mining Safety Databases Mentioned in AP Report

Filed under: Data Files, News, Reports