In a move that wasn’t exactly unexpected, OSHA has delayed the implementation of the previously reported OSHA 300 electronic submission rule. In a brief note on the record-keeping page, OSHA said it is delaying the implementation of the Electronic Reporting indefinitely.

OSHA is not accepting electronic submissions of injury and illness logs at this time, and intends to propose extending the July 1, 2017 date by which certain employers are required to submit the information from their completed 2016 Form 300A electronically. Updates will be posted to this webpage when they are available.

This move falls in line with the Trump Administration’s promise to roll back a number of Obama era rules. As a principle, Southeastern Cotton Ginners Assn. opposed this rule and submitted comments while it was still a proposed rule. As much of a concern about OSHA getting all the data directly, we were concerned about the “Public Shaming” that OSHA said the rule was intended to provide. In their final rule, they stated that a part of the idea in drafting the rule was to put peer pressure on employers by publicly shaming those that were bad operators in much the same way the Health Department required grades to be posted at restaurants.

Its not clear when/if this rule will be fully implemented or if it will be revised or repealed by Congress or the agency. We will keep you updated as details emerge.

DSF