Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
On May 17, 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reopened the public record on the proposed rule to revise the Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements regulation on workers’ musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). As reported in OSHA Withdraws Two Important Workplace Safety Proposals, OSHA recently in January withdrew the proposed regulation that would reinstate a column on work-related employer injury logs that would have required employers to record their workers’ MSDs.
The proposed regulation would require an employer to check-mark the MSD box on the column in the OSHA 300 log if an employee´s case meets the definition of an MSD and will not change how employers must record work-related injuries and illnesses. For the purpose of the injury logs, the proposed rule would define an MSD as a disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage or spinal discs that was not caused by a slip, trip, fall, motor vehicle accident or a similar accident.
OSHA met with the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy over teleconference on April 11 and 12 due to their concerns over how this proposed rule would impact small businesses. OSHA has since decided to reopen the record to allow interested individuals to give feedback on the rule.
Dr. David Michaels , Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health said “OSHA is eager to hear from the public on this, and every, proposed rule…The more feedback the agency receives from small businesses on this topic, the better informed we will be in crafting a proposed regulation that protects workers without overburdening employers.” OSHA invites the public to submit comments by June 16, 2011.
OSHA expects an estimated 1.505 million MSDs to be recorded annually among 1.542 million affected businesses. They estimate that the combined costs of the proposed rule will be $1.7 million per year.
If you suffer from injuries obtained at work, it is best advised that you contact an experienced Massachusetts workers’ compensation lawyer.
Source:
US Labor Department’s OSHA reopens public record on proposed record-keeping rule to add work-related musculoskeletal disorders column, OSHA National News Release, May 16, 2011
Related Blog Post:
OSHA Withdraws Two Important Workplace Safety Proposals
Contact a Massachusetts work injury lawyer if you have been injured in the workplace.
