Workplace injuries and illnesses are universal, regardless of whether you work on a fishing boat, an oil rig, or in a cubicle. As a result, most people are aware that all Mississippi employers must carry worker’s compensation insurance. What many people do not know is that large employers must also report their employees’ work-related illnesses and injuries to the federal Occupational Health and Health Administration (OSHA) for tracking purposes. These statistics allow the federal government, unions, and employees to track health and safety issues at employers. The Trump administration has made a significant change in these reporting regulations, however, and I wanted to highlight the differences and how they will likely affect Mississippi workers.
If you have sustained a workplace injury, you must find experienced counsel to help you attain your fair share of compensation for your loss of income and injury. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
New OSHA Reporting Regulations for 2019
This past January, OSHA revised the rules regarding workplace illness and injury reporting requirements. This revision eliminates reporting requirements instituted by the Obama administration that required businesses employing 250 employees or more to file electronic reports describing all employees’ illnesses and injuries. Companies must still keep these records, but they no longer have to submit them electronically to OSHA.
Is this change a positive or a negative for employees? It is hard to say. OSHA contends that this is a net win for employees, as the records that had previously been submitted contained sensitive employee information regarding health information. OSHA’s position is that it was too much of a risk to employee privacy to be providing this information electronically. Additionally, the agency sees this change as a business-friendly move to relieve an administrative burden. Critics contend that this is a move away from employer transparency and that OSHA’s shift in position will allow large companies to keep unsafe work conditions shielded from outside eyes. The ultimate answer to this question may come from the courts, as six states are suing OSHA to reinstate the Obama-era rules. The states involved claim that the change in policy will have the net result of making workplaces in their states more dangerous.
I am on the fence regarding these changes. I do not have tremendous confidence in OSHA’s ability to keep sensitive employee data safe, but believe that that justification is likely just an excuse to remove an onerous responsibility from employers. Employers must still compile the data in question and make it available to OSHA inspectors, but I have to wonder if administrative pressure on OSHA will also make these inspections occur less frequently. In the end, I anticipate that this is a growing trend in making workplaces less safe for workers.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured or Sickened at Work?
If you or a loved one was injured or sickened in a workplace accident, you are due compensation for any time you have been out of work, the costs of your treatment and rehabilitation, your pain and suffering, and other damages. But finding the right type of claim that can make you most whole requires careful analysis and thoughtful legal advice. Call me today to begin the most critical legal conversation of your career.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi worker’s compensation law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury in the workplace. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577. The seasoned Mississippi Worker’s Compensation Attorney is ready to assist you now!
