7/13/2001—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced June 29, 2001, that an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule on recordkeeping would largely go into effect as scheduled on January 1, 2002. According to Chao, the rule increases employee involvement, creates simpler forms in plain language, and allows employers to use computers to meet OSHA regulatory requirements.
The Department of Labor (DOL) is proposing a delay of a year before implementing the criteria for recording work-related hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The DOL is investigating the level of hearing loss that should be recorded as a “significant” health condition, and is holding forums to develop a comprehensive plan to address ergonomic hazards, where appropriate definitions of “ergonomic injury” and MSD will be decided.
