on September 02, 2016 ACA Compliance

Federal Law Alert: OSHA Rule Changes

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new final rule revising its Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation. The rule will require certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness data. It also prohibits employers from discouraging employees from making injury and illness reports.

Anti-Retaliation Provisions
  
The anti-retaliation provisions were supposed to become effective August 10, 2016. However, OSHA recently announced that enforcement of the anti-retaliation provisions would be delayed until November 1, 2016

Under the new anti-retaliation rules, employers must do the following:
• Inform employees of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses without retaliation; 
• Have a procedure for reporting work-related injuries and illnesses that is reasonable and does not deter or discourage employees from reporting; 
• Provide access to employees and their representatives to injury and illness records; and
• Refrain from retaliating against employees for reporting. 

OSHA is broadly interpreting what might “deter or discourage” reporting. Of particular note, programs that incentivize keeping the accident or injury rate low are effectively prohibited by these new rules. Additionally, automatic post-injury drug testing will be under more scrutiny and will likely be prohibited unless it is done pursuant to state or federal law or regulation.

An updated Injury and Accident Response and Reporting policy is available in the HR Support Center as a document with an attached acknowledgement. 

FLSA Guide

Paul Hardin

Paul Hardin is President of Moulton & Hardin, Inc. As an expert in both Employee Benefits and Workforce Management, Paul studies the relationship between all aspects of Human Capital Management, with an emphasis on Benefits Management, ACA, and how an HCM platform is invaluable for employers.

Want to learn more about how we can help you solve all of your HR Management problems?

CONTACT US