1. Top 10 OSHA Recordkeeping “Head-Scratchers”
Presented by: Steve Bisson
MOSH Research & Statistics
Division of Labor and Industry
Modify to fit your class and name(s)

2. Biography Steve Bisson, Administrator
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health
24 Years
Manager, Bureau of Labor Statistics OSHS Programs for Maryland
Example- modify for you

3. Why Do we have this Regulation?

4. The Occupational Safety and Health Act and the OSHA Recordkeeping System
The mission of the OSH Act is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for America’s workforce through the reduction of occupational injuries and illnesses.
The OSHA recordkeeping system was created to provide a means of measuring the progress toward achieving that goal.

5. State nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates*
compared to the national rate, private industry, 2012 WA
(4.8) ME MT
(5.6)
(5.0) ND OR MN
VT(5.0)
(3.9)
(3.8) WI NY NH ID SD
(4.0)
(2.5)
MA(3.1) WY MI RI
(3.5)
(4.0) IA PA
CT(3.9) NE NV
(4.5)
(3.9)
NJ(3.1)
(3.9) OH
(4.1) UT IL IN
DE(2.8)
(3.2) CA
(3.4)
(3.2)
(3.9) WV
MD(3.1) CO KS VA
(3.5) MO
(4.1)
DC(1.6) KY
(3.6)
(2.7)
(3.3)
(4.1) NC TN
(2.9) AZ OK
(3.5) NM
(3.2)
(3.6) AR SC
(3.9)
(3.2)
(3.0) AL GA MS
(3.3)
(2.8) TX LA
(2.7) AK
(2.3)
(4.6) FL HI
State rate not available
(3.8)
State rate statistically greater than national rate PR
State rate not statistically different from national rate
State rate statistically less than national rate
Among the 42 states and the District of Columbia for which estimates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses are available for 2012, 21 states experienced a higher incidence of injuries and illnesses than the national rate (3.4 cases per 100 full-time workers); 15 states plus the District of Columbia experienced lower rates; and 6 states had rates that were not statistically different from the national rate.
* Total recordable case (TRC) incidence rate per 100 full-time workers
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2013

7. Head-Scratcher #10
“We were told if it’s Workers’ Comp compensable it’s OSHA recordable.
Workers’ Comp denied the claim so we
took the case off the Log.”
Answer: Differences in scope,
defining terms and intended purpose
for each system makes this statement
problematical.

8. OSHA Recordkeeping and Workers Compensation ARE different.8 8

9. Subpart A , Purpose
To require employers to record and report work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses
Note: Recording or reporting a work-related injury, illness, or fatality does not mean the employer or employee was at fault, an OSHA rule has been violated, or that the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation or other benefits.
OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and Workers’ Compensation are independent of each other

10. Head-Scratcher # 9 “Everyone has to keep an OSHA log. Right?”
Answer: No.
Subpart B, Scope – Who keeps records?
partial exemption based on employment
10 or fewer employees during previous calendar year.
– partial exemption for certain industries
based on establishment’s SIC code
Completely optional Instructor preference

11. What’s meant by partial exemption?
Note to Subpart B - Scope: all employers covered by the OSH Act are also covered by these Part 1904 regulations. However, most don’t need to keep the Log 300 unless notified in writing by the government to keep records – see & .42, also…
Reporting fatalities and multiple hospitalizations to MOSH or OSHA

12. # 8
“Oh, he was hurt during an off-site teambuilding activity so I didn’t record it… besides, someone told us the hotel should have recorded it”.
Ans. – Recordable. Team building events are considered work activities. See OSHA’s letters of interpretation, Feb. 24, 2009
Optional slide

13. 1904.5 (b) What is the work environment?
OSHA defines the work environment as “the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. The work environment includes not only physical locations, but also the equipment or materials used by the employee during the course of his or her work.

14. #7
“We don’t record injuries to temporary workers, after all, they’re not our employees. I think the temp agency handles that.”
Ans. - If you obtain employees from a temporary help service, employee leasing service, or personnel supply service, you must record these injuries and illnesses if you supervise these employees on a day-to-day basis, see (b)(2).
Suggestion: list objectives if not already in presentation

15. # 6
“It’s company policy….we don’t record days away from work cases. Unfortunately, we have to let them go if they can’t work”.
See (b)(ii)(3)(viii) …if the employee leaves the company because of the injury or illness you must estimate the number of days away, or days of restriction and enter the day count on the log.
Optional Slide

16. # 5
“We’ve got several locations, but it’s easier to keep one log for everybody. Besides, I was told the regulation allows for this”.
Establishment specific records are a key component of the recordkeeping system, see &

17. # 4
“She was bitten by a spider during her smoke break. I’m not recording that!”
Answer: This case needs more information. We’ve got an event but were any of the criteria in met like medical treatment or days away from work?
Optional Slide to modify if referring to other standards in your presentation

18. # 3 “We’re a nonprofit so we don’t keep those kinds of records...”
Partial exempt status is based on industries
reporting low injury and illness rates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It has no
bearing on profit versus non-profit status.

19. #2
“I’m not recording that injury. It was his fault. He was told the proper procedures and ignored them.”
See Note to Recording or reporting a work-related injury, illness or fatality does not mean the employer or employee was at fault, that an OSHA rule has been violated or that the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation or other benefits.

20. Head-Scratcher # 1 “We play it safe, we just record everything!”
See subpart C – Recordkeeping Forms and Criteria
– recording criteria
– work relationship
– new case
– general recording criteria

22. MOSH On The Web Web Sites www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/mosh.html
Add any additional websites that may be relevant to your presenation

23. Thank you
Students
Facility
Others
Drive Safely!