The Delaware Business Insurance Update from CNC Insurance Associates " OSHA Electronic Record Keeping Requirement for Business" 4-16-17

In an effort to improve tracking of workplace injuries, OSHA will be requiring business owners to submit injury records online. Prior to this year, most business owners would post at their OSHA 300 logs at their place of business. Effective this year in 2017, those logs will have to be electronically submitted to OSHA.  According to OSHA, this requirement is to "nudge" employers to focus on safety, by making injury information publicly available.  The rule went into effect on Jan 2017, however as of this date the portal is still not up and functioning to meet the July 1 deadline to send in your reports. Not all businesses have to report this year, so check the OSHA website to determine if your business is required. This is going to be a big change for business owners. Having their injury records posted for competitors and the public to see,  could be problematic. Many injuries that happen on jobsites are not necessarily an indication of lack of safety. Businesses with very low frequency of claims, could be interpreted by the public as being unsafe, if they show one severe injury. Risk assessments on safety and safe workplaces are not always black and white. Business owners could be classified as unsafe by a public that has no training to make a proper determination. Keep an eye on this one folks. Until next time be careful out there and know your risks.


G. Kevin Nemith, President,  CNC Insurance Associates & The Business Insurance Center
Serving DE, MD, NJ, VA, & PA
www.cncinsurance,com
www.bizinsurancetv.org

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