The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has suspended an Obama-era rule requiring that companies electronically report their injury and illness records.
The action prevents these records from being publicly disclosed for the immediate future. Industry groups, including the Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, and the National Association of Home Builders, had challenged the 2016 Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule in court.
The organizations had also lobbied the Trump Administration to arguing that the rule could unfairly damage the reputations of some companies. Companies have been required to maintain worker injury and illness logs since 1971.
Between 1995 and 2012, OSHA had required about 180,000 organizations in high-hazard industries such as manufacturing and nursing homes to submit summary data by mail. Officials decided to expand the requirement and convert it to an electronic system to save money. An OSHA spokeswoman said that the agency delayed the rule to address employers’ “concerns about meeting their reporting obligations” in time, according to the Washington Post.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2021
Biden Administration will make new investments in building energy efficiency
Focus on grid-interactive buildings; Energy Star expansion; new targets for energy, water reduction.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2021
Solar panel trade group issues guidelines to rid use of components built with forced labor
Growing concern that PV industry is dependent on work camps in China.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2021
Smart electric panels can aid transition to renewable energy
Allow customers better control of circuits; utilities can better manage demand.
Codes and Standards | May 18, 2021
Cross-laminated timber performs better than expected in shear test
Tests conducted in support of new criteria for design of CLT diaphragm.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2021
Latest Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices criticized for not considering bikes, pedestrians
More than a dozen advocacy groups want feds to start over.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2021
LEED-certified federal buildings don’t use less energy than average
May be due to trade-offs on how score is developed.
Codes and Standards | May 12, 2021
White paper examines how to reduce pathogen transmission in ventilation
Pressure barriers and airflow distribution can be effective in existing buildings.
Codes and Standards | May 11, 2021
Pressure builds on White House to rein in cost of lumber
Spike in prices has added nearly $36,000 to price of average new home.
Codes and Standards | May 11, 2021
Residential codes should be upgraded to protect from cooking pollutants
Report examines ventilation standards, calls for increased public awareness of issue.
Codes and Standards | May 6, 2021
Blue roofs can provide relief to overwhelmed stormwater systems
Benefits most evident in industrial commercial areas.