Reporting Occupational Injury and Illness Data to OSHA; Final Rule

This final rule amends 29 CFR Part 1904 by adding section 1904.17. Section 1904.17 requires employers to report information to OSHA contained in records that employers are required to create and maintain pursuant to Part 1904, and the number of workers they employed and hours their employees worked during designated periods. Section 1904.17 will clarify OSHA's authority to collect establishment-specific data by mail for use in agency self-evaluation, deployment of agency resources, periodic reassessment of existing regulations and standards, and rulemaking. Section 1904.17 was proposed (as section 1904.13) as part of a comprehensive proposal to revise Part 1904. 61 FR 4030 (Feb. 2, 1996). OSHA has determined, however, to take final agency action with respect to section 1904.17 at this time, and to take final action on the remaining Part 1904 issues, including other records access issues, at a later date.