Welcome to Safety Watch, a newsletter that provides an update on current loss-control regulatory and technical issues.

CONTENTS

NATLSCO (cover page)

OSHA’s new Cold Stress Card offers tips to protect outdoor workers

Have you followed all of OSHA's Noise Standard requirements?

These tips will help you avoid employee apathy during training

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OSHA revises recordkeeping forms

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses for 2004 (also known as the OSHA log).

The new form, required for employers to record injuries and illnesses, includes a hearing-loss column in section M. This change is also reflected in the 2004 Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

Employers must have started using the new OSHA Form 300 on Jan. 1. It has the date of revision (Rev. 1/2004) next to the form number. The new form is now available on OSHA’s Web site at www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf.

Hard copies of the new OSHA 300 form can be obtained using OSHA’s online order form or by calling the agency at (800) 321-OSHA.

OSHA’s new Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses was recently revised for 2004, as shown here.

Another notable change to Form 300 involves the “days away from work” column, which is now placed before the “days on job transfer or restriction” (Sections K and L on Form 300).

Within OSHA’s new forms packet, guidance is available to assist employers in keeping their injury and illness records. Changes to this document include:

• Updated formulas for calculating incidence rates.

• New recording criteria for occupational hearing loss in the “Overview” section.

• More prominent column heading “Classify the Case” and instructions (makes clear that employers should mark only one selection among the four columns offered).

According to OSHA, these changes reflect the new recordkeeping guidelines for occupational hearing loss and are also a response to public suggestions to make the forms easier to use.

Injuries and illnesses for years prior to 2004 should continue to be recorded on the appropriate form for that year.

The forms for 2003 and 2002 will continue to be available on OSHA’s Web site at www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/OSHArecordkeepingforms.pdf. Additionally, employers should use the old OSHA 300A Summary Form (without the hearing-loss column) to post as required in February 2004. The new 300A Form that includes the hearing-loss column should be used to post in February 2005.

For more information or assistance regarding this topic, please contact:

Tony Zoia, MS, CSP
Natlsco Risk and Safety Consulting
Phone: 800-323-9585, ext. 5379
Fax: 847-726-5271
E-mail: azoia@us.bureauveritas.com