MAY 2017
DID YOU KNOW?
New research from the American Chiropractic Association and the
American College of Physicians may change the treatment for back
pain, one of the most common reasons for missing work. Until recently,
one of the most recommended treatments was the prescription of
opioids and steroids. However, both organizations now agree that
therapy-based techniques can help injured employees recover faster
and reduce the chances of reoccurring back pain.
IN THIS ISSUE
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President Trump Overturns OSHA’s
Ongoing Recordkeeping Rule. A new
resolution has overturned a rule that
allowed OSHA to issue citations up to
five years after a recordkeeping
violation occurred.
Autonomous Vehicles Could
Eliminate Up to 4 Million Jobs.
Advanced vehicles that can operate
without a driver could cause an
economic ripple effect in regions that
rely on commercial transportation.
Auto Insurance Prices Likely to Keep
Rising. The high costs of auto
insurance claims and vehicle repairs
have led to higher prices for both
commercial and personal auto
policies.
Provided by:
Marshall & Sterling Insurance
President Trump Overturns OSHA’s
Ongoing Recordkeeping Rule
President Donald Trump recently signed a resolution that overturned
a final recordkeeping rule from OSHA. According to the agency, the
rule was meant to clarify that employers must maintain work-related
injury and illness records throughout a five-year storage period, and
did not create any additional requirements. However, critics of the
rule argued that it allowed OSHA to unlawfully issue citations to
businesses up to five years after an incident, provided the violation
was related to recordkeeping.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) that governs OSHA
does not allow for a citation to be issued more than six months after
the occurrence of a violation. Despite this, OSHA’s final rule stated
that the agency considers all recordkeeping violations to exist until
they are corrected. For example, if a recordkeeping violation first
began on Feb. 1 and was corrected on May 15, OSHA would have had
until Nov. 15 to issue a citation under its final rule.
This development is the latest step in the Trump administration’s
efforts to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. Since Trump
took office, OSHA has delayed its new beryllium exposure rule until
May 20, and has also announced that it is currently not ready to
accept electronic injury and illness data for its electronic reporting
rule. However, you still need to be aware of your ongoing OSHA
requirements. Although OSHA’s recordkeeping rule has been
rescinded, employers are still required to maintain their injury and
illness records for five years. Contact us at 800-724-0695 for help
staying in compliance with OSHA standards.