The Maine Department of Labor notified MGFPA that major changes to federal OSHA recordkeeping rules will go into effect on January 1, 2015. Some of our members may now be required to record occupational injuries and illnesses using the appropriate forms: the 300, 300A, and 301. This would depend on that business’ type of work identified by the business’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.
The Maine Department of Labor notified MGFPA that major changes to federal OSHA recordkeeping rules will go into effect on January 1, 2015. Some of our members may now be required to record occupational injuries and illnesses using the appropriate forms: the 300, 300A, and 301. This would depend on that business’ type of work identified by the business’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.
Businesses with 11 or more employees (at any given point in time during the calendar year, to include seasonal peak staffing levels) in the following industries will be required to maintain the records and may not have been required to do so prior to this change (top ten industries affected listed in order of employment in Maine):
- All automobile dealers
- Individual and family services
- Building material and supplies dealers
- Services to buildings and dwellings
- Other amusement and recreation industries
- Direct selling establishments (home delivery of services)
- Other professional, scientific, and technical services
- Activities related to real estate
- Lessors of real estate
- Special food services
If you have received a post card from OSHA in December, you must now follow the OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping rules. However, please be aware that if a business does NOT receive this card, it may still be required to follow OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping rules.
Also, as of January 1, 2015 new rules go into effect on mandating that fatalities and catastrophic injuries (hospitalizations, amputations, and/or loss of an eye) be reported directly to OSHA. These reporting rules apply to all private sector businesses whether or not they are required to maintain OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping forms. Further information on these new rules are available here.
To educate employers, the department’s SafetyWorks! program has scheduled three additional, no-charge classes on OSHA recordkeeping: Dec. 8 and Dec. 16. All three classes run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The classes on Nov. 17 and Dec. 8 will be held in Augusta at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute. The class on Dec. 16 will be held at the City of Westbrook’s public safety building. Employers interested in registering can learn more and register at http://www.safetyworksmaine.com or call 207-623-7900 to enroll. Space is limited so reservations are required. In addition to the classes, SafetyWorks! may be able to provide your organization or business with a one-hour overview on these updates. Contact 207-623-7903 for more information.