Document ID: OSHA-2021-0006-0006
Agency: osha
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Posted Date: 2022-03-30T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18528-18558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06546]

[[Page 18527]]

Vol. 87

Wednesday,

No. 61

March 30, 2022

Part III

Department of Labor

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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29 CFR Part 1904

Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 87 , No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2022 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 18528]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1904

[Docket No. OSHA-2021-0006]
RIN 1218-AD40

Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: OSHA is proposing to amend its occupational injury and illness 
recordkeeping regulation to require certain employers to electronically 
submit injury and illness information to OSHA that employers are 
already required to keep under the recordkeeping regulation. 
Specifically, OSHA proposes to amend its regulation to require 
establishments with 100 or more employees in certain designated 
industries to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 
300, 301, and 300A to OSHA once a year. Establishments with 20 or more 
employees in certain industries would continue to be required to 
electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A annual 
summary to OSHA once a year. OSHA also proposes to update the 
classification system used to determine the list of industries covered 
by the electronic submission requirement. In addition, the proposed 
rule would remove the current requirement for establishments with 250 
or more employees, not in a designated industry, to electronically 
submit information from their Form 300A to OSHA on an annual basis. 
OSHA intends to post the data from the proposed annual electronic 
submission requirement on a public website after identifying and 
removing information that reasonably identifies individuals directly, 
such as individuals' names and contact information. Finally, OSHA is 
proposing to require establishments to include their company name when 
making electronic submissions to OSHA.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: 
    Comments: Comments, along with any submissions and attachments, 
should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov, 
which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions 
online for making electronic submissions. After accessing ``all 
documents and comments'' in the docket (Docket No. OSHA-2021-0006), 
check the ``proposed rule'' box in the column headed ``Document Type,'' 
find the document posted on the date of publication of this document, 
and click the ``Comment Now'' link. When uploading multiple attachments 
to www.regulations.gov, please number all of your attachments, because 
www.regulations.gov will not automatically number the attachments. This 
will be very useful in identifying all attachments in the preamble. For 
example, Attachment 1_title of your document, Attachment 2_title of 
your document, Attachment 3_title of your document. For assistance 
with commenting and uploading documents, please see the Frequently 
Asked Questions on regulations.gov.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency's name and 
the docket number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2021-0006). All 
comments, including any personal information you provide, are placed in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about 
submitting information they do not want made available to the public, 
or submitting materials that contain personal information (either about 
themselves or others), such as Social Security numbers and birthdates.
    Docket: To read or download comments and other materials submitted 
in the docket, go to Docket No. OSHA-2021-0006 at https://www.regulations.gov. All comments and submissions are listed in the 
https://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., 
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download 
through that website. All comments and submissions, including 
copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA 
Docket Office.\1\ Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350, 
(TTY (877) 889-5627) for information about materials not available 
through the website, and for assistance in using the internet to locate 
docket submissions.
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    \1\ Documents submitted to the docket by OSHA or stakeholders 
are assigned document identification numbers (Document ID) for easy 
identification and retrieval. The full Document ID is the docket 
number plus a unique four-digit code. OSHA is identifying supporting 
information in this document by author name, publication year, and 
the last four digits of the Document ID.
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    Electronic copies of this Federal Register document are available 
at https://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases 
and other relevant information, is available at OSHA's website at 
https://www.osha.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For press inquiries: Contact Frank Meilinger, Director, Office of 
Communications, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor; telephone (202) 693-1999; email: 
[email protected].
    For general information and technical inquiries: Contact Lee Anne 
Jillings, Director, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency 
Management, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone (202) 693-2300; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. Introduction
    B. Regulatory History
    C. Litigation Resulting From Previous Rulemakings
    D. Injury and Illness Data Collection
    E. Publication of Electronic Data
    F. Differences Between the BLS SOII and Proposed OSHA Data 
Collections
    G. Benefits of Establishment-Specific, Case-Specific Data 
Collection and Publication
II. Legal Authority
III. Summary and Explanation of the Proposed Rule
    A. Description of Proposed Revisions
    1. Section 1904.41(a)(1) Annual Electronic Submission of 
Information From OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by Establishments With 20 or More Employees in Designated 
Industries
    2. Section 1904.41(a)(2) Annual Electronic Submission of OSHA 
Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 
300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and OSHA Form 301 
Injury and Illness Incident Report by Establishments With 100 or 
More Employees in Designated Industries
    3. Section 1904.41(b)(1)(i) and (ii)
    4. Section 1904.41(b)(9)
    5. Section 1904.41(b)(10)
    6. Section 1904.41(c) Reporting Dates
    B. Questions
IV. Preliminary Economic Analysis and Regulatory Flexibility 
Certification
    A. Introduction
    B. Costs
    1. Section 1904.41(a)(1) Annual Electronic Submission of 
Information From OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by Establishments With 20 or more Employees in Designated 
Industries
    2. Section 1904.41(a)(2) Annual Electronic Submission of OSHA 
Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 
300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and OSHA Form 301 
Injury and Illness Incident Report by Establishments With 100 or

[[Page 18529]]

More Employees in Designated Industries
    3. Section 1904.41(b)(10)
    4. Budget Costs to the Government for the Creation of the 
Reporting System, Helpdesk Assistance, and Administration of the 
Electronic Submission Program
    5. Total Costs of the Rule
    C. Benefits
    D. Economic Feasibility
    E. Alternatives
    F. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
V. OMB Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
VI. Unfunded Mandates
VII. Federalism
VIII. State Plans
IX. Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
X. Public Participation
    Authority and Signature

I. Background

A. Introduction

    OSHA's regulation at 29 CFR part 1904 requires employers with more 
than 10 employees in most industries to keep records of occupational 
injuries and illnesses at their establishments. Employers covered by 
the regulation must record each recordable employee injury and illness 
on an OSHA Form 300, which is the ``Log of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses,'' or equivalent. The OSHA Form 300 includes information 
about the employee's name, job title, date of the injury or illness, 
where the injury or illness occurred, description of the injury or 
illness (e.g., body part affected), and the outcome of the injury or 
illness (e.g., death, days away from work, restricted work activity). 
Employers must also prepare a supplementary OSHA Form 301 ``Injury and 
Illness Incident Report'' or equivalent that provides additional 
details about each case recorded on the OSHA Form 300. The OSHA Form 
301 includes information about the employee's name and address, date of 
birth, date hired, gender, the name and address of the health care 
professional that treated the employee, as well as more detailed 
information about where and how the injury or illness occurred. At the 
end of each year, employers are required to prepare a summary report of 
all injuries and illnesses on the OSHA Form 300A, which is the 
``Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses,'' and post the form 
in a visible location in the workplace. The OSHA Form 300A does not 
contain information about individual employees, but does include 
general information about an employer's workplace, such as the average 
number of employees and total number of hours worked by all employees 
during the calendar year.
    Section 1904.41 of the current recordkeeping regulation also 
requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness 
data to OSHA. Section 1904.41(a)(1) requires establishments with 250 or 
more employees in industries that are required to routinely keep OSHA 
injury and illness records to electronically submit information from 
the Form 300A summary to OSHA once a year. Section 1904.41(a)(2) 
requires establishments with 20-249 employees in certain designated 
industries to electronically submit information from their Form 300A 
summary to OSHA once a year. Also, Sec.  1904.41(a)(3) provides that, 
upon notification, employers must electronically submit requested 
information from their part 1904 records to OSHA. Lastly, Sec.  
1904.41(a)(4) requires each establishment that must electronically 
submit injury and illness information to OSHA to also provide their 
Employer Identification Number (EIN) in their submittal.
    Under this proposed rule, establishments with 20 or more employees 
in certain designated industries (listed in appendix A to subpart E) 
would continue to electronically submit information from their Form 
300A annual summary to OSHA once a year. However, the proposed rule 
would eliminate the requirement for all establishments with 250 or more 
employees in industries that are required to routinely keep OSHA injury 
and illness records to electronically submit information from the Form 
300A to OSHA. Instead, establishments with 100 or more employees in 
certain designated industries (listed in appendix B to subpart E) would 
be required to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 
300, 301, and 300A to OSHA once a year. OSHA also proposes to update 
the industry classification system used for the proposed list of 
designated industries in appendix A and B to subpart E. In addition, 
OSHA is proposing to require establishments to include their company 
name when making electronic submissions to OSHA.
    The proposed requirement for establishments with 20 or more 
employees in certain designated industries to electronically submit 
information from their Form 300A to OSHA once a year is essentially the 
same as the current regulation. For establishments with 100 or more 
employees in certain designated industries, the proposed requirement to 
electronically submit information from their Forms 300 and 301 to OSHA 
on an annual basis represents a change from the current regulation. The 
proposed requirement would provide systematic access for OSHA to the 
establishment-specific, case-specific injury and illness information 
that these establishments are already required to collect.
    Additionally, OSHA intends to post the collected establishment-
specific, case-specific injury and illness information online. As 
discussed in more detail below, the agency will seek to minimize the 
possibility that worker information, such as name and contact 
information, will be released, through multiple efforts, including 
limiting the worker information collected, designing the collection 
system to provide extra protections for some of the information that 
employers would be required to submit under the proposal, withholding 
certain fields from public disclosure, and using automated software to 
identify and remove information that reasonably identifies individuals 
directly. OSHA does not intend to include information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly, such as employee name, contact 
information, and name of physician or health care professional, in the 
published information. The expanded public access to establishment-
specific, case-specific injury and illness data would allow employers, 
employees, potential employees, employee representatives, customers, 
potential customers, researchers, and the general public to make 
informed decisions about the workplace safety and health at a given 
establishment, and this accessibility will ultimately result in the 
reduction of occupational injuries and illnesses.
    OSHA estimates that this proposed rule would have economic costs of 
$4.3 million per year, including $3.9 million per year to the private 
sector, with costs of $81 per year for affected establishments with 100 
or more employees in designated industries. The agency believes that 
the annual benefits, while unquantified, would significantly exceed the 
annual costs.
    OSHA seeks comment on this proposal.

B. Regulatory History

    OSHA's regulations on recording and reporting occupational injuries 
and illnesses (29 CFR part 1904) were first issued in 1971 (36 FR 12612 
(July 2, 1971)). These regulations require the recording of work-
related injuries and illnesses that involve death, loss of 
consciousness, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to 
another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or diagnosis of a 
significant injury or illness by a physician or other licensed

[[Page 18530]]

health care professional (29 CFR 1904.7).
    On July 29, 1977, OSHA amended these regulations to partially 
exempt businesses having ten or fewer employees during the previous 
calendar year from the requirement to record occupational injuries and 
illnesses (42 FR 38568). Then, on December 28, 1982, OSHA amended the 
regulations again to partially exempt establishments in certain lower-
hazard industries from the requirement to record occupational injuries 
and illnesses (47 FR 57699).\2\ OSHA also amended the recordkeeping 
regulations in 1994 (Reporting of Fatality or Multiple Hospitalization 
Incidents, 59 FR 15594) and 1997 (Reporting Occupational Injury and 
Illness Data to OSHA, 62 FR 6434). Under the version of Sec.  1904.41 
added by the 1997 final rule, OSHA began requiring certain employers to 
submit their 300A data to OSHA annually through the OSHA Data 
Initiative (ODI). Through the ODI, OSHA collected data on injuries and 
acute illnesses attributable to work-related activities in the private 
sector from approximately 80,000 establishments in selected high-hazard 
industries. The agency used these data to calculate establishment-
specific injury and illness rates, and, in combination with other data 
sources, to target enforcement and compliance assistance activities.
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    \2\ All employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act (the ``OSH Act'' or ``Act'') are covered by OSHA's recordkeeping 
regulation. However, most employers do not have to keep OSHA injury 
and illness records unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS) informs them in writing that they must keep records. For 
example, employers with ten or fewer employees, as well as 
businesses with establishments in certain industries, are partially 
exempt from keeping OSHA injury and illness records. In addition, 
all employers covered by the OSH Act, including those that are 
partially exempt from keeping injury and illness records, are still 
required to report work-related fatalities, in-patient 
hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye to OSHA within 
specified timeframes under 29 CFR 1904.39.
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    On January 19, 2001, OSHA issued a final rule amending its 
requirements for the recording and reporting of occupational injuries 
and illnesses (29 CFR parts 1904 and 1952), along with the forms 
employers use to record those injuries and illnesses (66 FR 5916). The 
final rule also updated the list of industries that are partially 
exempt from recording occupational injuries and illnesses.
    On September 18, 2014, OSHA again amended the regulations to 
require employers to report work-related fatalities and severe 
injuries--in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an 
eye--to OSHA and to allow electronic reporting of these events (79 FR 
56130). The final rule also revised the list of industries that are 
partially exempt from recording occupational injuries and illnesses.
    On May 12, 2016, OSHA amended the regulations on recording and 
reporting occupational injuries and illnesses to require employers, on 
an annual basis, to submit electronically to OSHA injury and illness 
information that employers are already required to keep under part 1904 
(81 FR 29624). Under the 2016 revisions, establishments with 250 or 
more employees that are routinely required to keep records were 
required to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 
300, 300A, and 301 to OSHA or OSHA's designee once a year, and 
establishments with 20 to 249 employees in certain designated 
industries were required to electronically submit information from 
their OSHA annual summary (Form 300A) to OSHA or OSHA's designee once a 
year. In addition, that final rule required employers, upon 
notification, to electronically submit information from part 1904 
recordkeeping forms to OSHA or OSHA's designee. These provisions became 
effective on January 1, 2017, with an initial submission deadline of 
July 1, 2017, for 2016 Form 300A data. That submission deadline was 
subsequently extended to December 15, 2017 (82 FR 55761). The deadline 
for electronic submission of information from OSHA Forms 300 and 301 
was July 1, 2018. Because of a subsequent rulemaking, OSHA never 
received the data submissions from Forms 300 and 301 that the 2016 
final rule anticipated.
    On January 25, 2019, OSHA issued a final rule that amended the 
recordkeeping regulations to remove the requirement for establishments 
with 250 or more employees that are routinely required to keep records 
to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300 and 301 
to OSHA or OSHA's designee once a year. These establishments are 
currently required to electronically submit only information from the 
OSHA 300A annual summary. The final rule also added a requirement for 
covered employers to submit their Employer Identification Number (EIN) 
electronically along with their injury and illness data submission (83 
FR 36494, 84 FR 380-406).

C. Litigation Resulting From Previous Rulemakings

    Both the 2016 and 2019 OSHA final rules that addressed the 
electronic submission of injury and illness data were challenged in 
court. In Texo ABC/ABG et al. v. Acosta (N.D. Tex.), and NAHB et al. v. 
Acosta (W.D. Okla.), industry groups challenged OSHA's 2016 final rule 
that required establishments with 250 or more employees to 
electronically submit data from their OSHA Forms 300 and 301 to OSHA 
(as well as other requirements not relevant to this rulemaking). The 
complaints alleged that the publication of establishment-specific 
injury and illness data would lead to misuse of confidential and 
proprietary information by the public and special interest groups. The 
complaints also alleged that publication of the data exceeds OSHA's 
authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the ``OSH Act'' 
or ``Act'') and is unconstitutional under the First Amendment to the 
U.S. Constitution. After OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
on July 30, 2018 (83 FR 36494), proposing to rescind the 300 and 301 
data submission requirement, the Texo case was administratively closed, 
and the plaintiffs in the NAHB case dropped their claims relating to 
the 300 and 301 data submission requirement after the 2019 final rule 
was published (and moved forward with their other claims, which are 
still pending in the Western District of Oklahoma).
    In Public Citizen Health Research Group et al. v. Pizella (No. 
1:19-cv-00166) and State of New Jersey et al. v. Pizella (No. 1:19-cv-
00621), a group of public health organizations and a group of states 
filed separate lawsuits challenging OSHA's 2019 final rule rescinding 
the requirement for certain employers to submit the data from OSHA 
Forms 300 and 301 to OSHA electronically each year. The District Court 
for the District of Columbia resolved the two cases in a consolidated 
opinion and held that rescinding the provision was within the agency's 
discretion. The court concluded the record supported OSHA's 
determination that costly manual review of collected 300 and 301 data 
would be needed to avoid a meaningful risk of exposing sensitive worker 
information to public disclosure. The court also determined that OSHA 
provided adequate notice of the estimated costs of manually reviewing 
the data for sensitive information, and that the final rule was a 
logical outgrowth of the rulemaking. Finally, the court upheld OSHA's 
conclusion that the uncertain benefits of collecting the 300 and 301 
data did not justify diverting OSHA's resources from other efforts, and 
the court rejected the plaintiffs' assertion that OSHA's reasons for 
the 2019 final rule were internally inconsistent.
    Additionally, since 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) has 
received

[[Page 18531]]

several adverse decisions regarding the release of electronically 
submitted 300A data under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In 
each of the cases, OSHA argued that electronically submitted 300A 
injury and illness data was covered under the confidentiality exemption 
in FOIA Exemption 4. Two courts, one in the U.S. District Court for the 
Northern District of California and another in the U.S. District Court 
for the District of Columbia, disagreed with OSHA's position. See, 
Center for Investigative Reporting, et al., v. Department of Labor, No. 
4:18-cv-02414-DMR, 2020 WL 2995209 (N.D. Cal. June 4, 2020); Public 
Citizen Foundation v. United States Department of Labor, et al., No. 
1:18-cv-00117 (D.D.C. June 23, 2020). In addition, on July 6, 2020, the 
Department received an adverse ruling from a magistrate judge in the 
Northern District of California in a FOIA case involving Amazon 
fulfillment centers. In that case, plaintiffs sought the release of 
individual 300A forms, which consisted of summaries of Amazon's work-
related injuries and illnesses and which were provided to OSHA 
compliance officers during specific OSHA inspections of Amazon 
fulfillment centers in Ohio and Illinois. See, Center for Investigative 
Reporting, et al., v. Department of Labor, No. 3:19-cv-05603-SK, 2020 
WL 3639646 (N.D. Cal. July 6, 2020).
    In holding that FOIA Exemption 4 was inapplicable, the courts 
rejected OSHA's position that electronically submitted 300A injury and 
illness data is covered under the confidentiality exemption in FOIA 
Exemption 4. The decisions noted that the 300A form is posted in the 
workplace for three months and that there is no expectation that the 
employer must keep these data confidential or private. As a result, 
OSHA provided the requested 300A data to the plaintiffs, and initiated 
a policy to post collected 300A data on its public website. The data 
are available at https://www.osha.gov/Establishment-Specific-Injury-and-Illness-Data and include the submissions for calendar years 2016, 
2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

D. Injury and Illness Data Collection

    Currently, two U.S. Department of Labor data collections request 
and compile information from the OSHA injury and illness records 
certain employers are required to keep under 29 CFR part 1904: The 
annual collection conducted by OSHA under 29 CFR 1904.41 (Electronic 
Submission of Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Injury and 
Illness Records), and the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and 
Illnesses (SOII) conducted by BLS under 29 CFR 1904.42. This proposed 
rule would amend the current regulation at Sec.  1904.41. It would not 
change the SOII or the authority for the SOII set forth in Sec.  
1904.42.
    The primary purpose of the SOII is to provide nationally-
representative annual estimates of the rates and numbers of work-
related non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the United States, and on 
how these statistics vary by incident, industry, geography, occupation, 
and other characteristics. Title 44 U.S.C. 3572 prohibits BLS from 
releasing establishment-specific and case-specific data to the general 
public or to OSHA. OSHA only has access to the publicly-available 
aggregate information from the injury and illness records collected 
through the BLS SOII.
    The BLS has modified their collection to allow respondents that 
have already provided their Form 300A data to OSHA to provide their 
OSHA identification number (OSHA ID) to import to BLS the data that 
they have submitted to the OSHA ITA in that same year. Under this data-
sharing feature, if BLS can successfully match establishment 
information with information reported to OSHA, data reported by the 
respondent to the OSHA ITA are automatically imported into the BLS SOII 
internet Data Collection Facility (IDCF). Imported data are taken from 
the OSHA 300A annual summary. Additional information may need to be 
entered manually to complete the SOII submission. In the 2021 
collection for the BLS SOII, roughly 31,000 establishments had an 
opportunity to use this data-sharing feature for their OSHA Form 300A 
data, i.e., they were submitting to both the OSHA ITA and the BLS SOII. 
Of these roughly 31,000 establishments, 9,479 establishments provided 
their OSHA ID to the BLS SOII collection for BLS to try to match for 
the data-sharing feature. Of these 9,479 establishments, 4,716 
establishments that passed BLS's data quality checks had their OSHA-
submitted data automatically imported into the BLS SOII IDCF via the 
data-sharing feature. The Department is continuing to evaluate 
opportunities to further reduce duplicative reporting. To this end, BLS 
will evaluate the feasibility of using this same model for the 
additional information that would be required by this proposed rule.
    Authority for the SOII comes from 29 CFR 1904.42, Requests from the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics for data. Each year, BLS collects data from 
Forms 300, 301, and 300A from a scientifically-selected probability 
sample of about 230,000 establishments, covering nearly all private-
sector industries, as well as state and local government. Employers may 
submit their data on paper forms or electronically. BLS releases the 
aggregated data in November of the year following the data year (e.g., 
November 2020 for 2019 data).
    As discussed above, the OSHA recordkeeping regulation has required 
certain employers to submit injury and illness information to OSHA 
since 1997. Currently, Sec.  1904.41, Electronic submission of Employer 
Identification Number (EIN) and injury and illness records to OSHA, 
requires two groups of establishments to annually submit information 
from the OSHA Form 300A Annual Summary: Establishments with 20-249 
employees in industries included in appendix A to subpart E of part 
1904, and establishments with 250 or more employees in industries that 
are routinely required to keep part 1904 injury and illness records. 
For purposes of Sec.  1904.41, the number of employees at a given 
establishment is based on the number of individuals employed at the 
establishment at any time during the previous calendar year, including 
full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary workers. In addition, 
data submissions under Sec.  1904.41 are typically limited to 
establishments in industries with high injury and illness rates. For 
example, while current Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) covers establishments with 
20-249 employees, only establishments in certain designated industries 
are required to electronically submit information from their Form 300A 
under this provision.
    The primary purpose of the electronic submission requirements in 
Sec.  1904.41 is to enable OSHA to focus its enforcement and compliance 
assistance efforts on individual workplaces with ongoing serious safety 
and health problems, as identified by the occupational injury and 
illness rates at those workplaces. An establishment's submission of 
information from its OSHA Form 300A Annual Summary provides summary 
information about injuries and illnesses at that specific 
establishment, but not about specific cases of injury or illness at 
that establishment. In contrast, the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related 
Injuries and Illnesses and Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report 
provide information about specific cases of injury or illness.

E. Publication of Electronic Data

    OSHA intends to make much of the data it collects public. As 
discussed below, the publication of specific data elements will in part 
be restricted by applicable federal law, including provisions under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as well as specific provisions 
within part 1904.

[[Page 18532]]

OSHA will make the following data from the OSHA Form 300 and 301 
available in a searchable online database:
    Form 300 (the Log)--All collected data fields on the 300 Log will 
generally be made available on OSHA's website. OSHA is proposing to 
collect all of the fields except employee name (column B). OSHA 
currently collects these data during inspections and maintains them as 
part of the enforcement case file. However, the agency does not 
currently conduct a systematic collection of the information on the 300 
Log. OSHA generally releases copies of the 300 Logs maintained in 
inspection files in response to FOIA requests after redacting employee 
names (column B).
    OSHA's regulations require employers to provide employees, former 
employees, their representatives, and their authorized employee 
representatives with access to the 300 Log (29 CFR 1904.32(b)(2)). 
Specifically, when an employee, former employee, personal 
representative, or authorized employee representative asks an employer 
for copies of that employer's current or stored OSHA 300 Log(s) for an 
establishment the employee or former employee has worked in, the 
employer must give the requester a copy of the relevant OSHA 300 Log(s) 
by the end of the next business day (29 CFR 1904.32(b)(2)(ii)). Once 
the copy is accessed, OSHA's recordkeeping regulation does not place 
any limitations on the use or release of the information by employees 
and employee representatives. Moreover, as explained in OSHA's 2001 
final rule amending its requirements for the recording and reporting of 
occupational injuries and illnesses, while agency policy is that 
employees and their representatives with access to records should treat 
the information contained therein as confidential except as necessary 
to further the purposes of the Act, the Secretary lacks statutory 
authority to enforce such a policy against employees and 
representatives (see 66 FR 6056-57 (citing e.g., 29 U.S.C. 658, 659) 
(Act's enforcement mechanisms directed solely at employers)). In other 
words, as OSHA explained in its 2016 recordkeeping final rule, 
employees and their representatives can make the data they have 
accessed public if they wish to do so (see 81 FR 29684). However, there 
are some restrictions on what employers may do with these data. Under 
Sec.  1904.29(b)(10), if employers choose to voluntarily disclose the 
Forms to persons other than government representatives, employees, 
former employees, or authorized representatives (as required by 
Sec. Sec.  1904.35 and 1904.40), the employer must remove or hide the 
employees' names and other personally identifying information, with 
certain exceptions as spelled out in OSHA's regulations.
    Form 301 (Incident Report)--All collected data fields on the right-
hand side of the form (Fields 10 through 18) will generally be made 
available. The agency currently occasionally collects the form for 
enforcement case files. Section 1904.35(b)(2)(v)(B) prohibits employers 
from releasing the information in Fields 1 through 9 (the left-hand 
side of the form) to individuals other than the employee or former 
employee who suffered the injury or illness and his or her personal 
representatives. Similarly, OSHA will not publish establishment-
specific data from the left side of Form 301. OSHA does not release 
data from Fields 1 through 9 in response to FOIA requests. The agency 
does not currently conduct a systematic collection of the information 
on the Form 301. However, the agency does review the entire Form 301 
during some workplace inspections and occasionally collects the form 
for inclusion in the enforcement case file. Note that OSHA is proposing 
not to collect (and therefore could not publish) Field 1 (employee 
name), Field 2 (employee address), Field 6 (name of treating physician 
or health care provider), or Field 7 (name and address of non-workplace 
treating facility). As above, under Sec.  1904.35(a)(3), employers must 
provide access to injury and illness records for their employees and 
employees' representatives, as described in Sec.  1904.35(b)(2). Also, 
as above, the OSHA recordkeeping regulation does not place limitations 
on the use or release of the information obtained by employees and 
employee representatives.

F. Differences Between the BLS SOII and Proposed OSHA Data Collections

    The BLS SOII is an establishment-based survey used to estimate 
nationally-representative incidence rates and counts of workplace 
injuries and illnesses. It also provides detailed case and demographic 
data for cases that involve one or more days away from work (DAFW) and 
for days of job transfer and restriction (DJTR).
    SOII estimates the number and frequency (incidence rates) of 
workplace injuries and illnesses based on recordkeeping logs kept by 
employers during the year. These records reflect not only the year's 
injury and illness experience, but also the employer's understanding of 
which cases are work-related under recordkeeping rules promulgated by 
OSHA. Although SOII uses OSHA's recordkeeping rules to facilitate 
convenient collection of data, it is not administered by OSHA. In 
addition, the scope of SOII encompasses industries not required by OSHA 
to routinely keep injury and illness records (i.e., industries listed 
in appendix A to subpart B of part 1904). Information collected through 
the program is used for purely statistical purposes, cannot be viewed 
by OSHA, and cannot be used for any regulatory purpose. Besides injury 
and illness counts, survey respondents also are asked to provide 
additional information for the subset of nonfatal cases that involved 
at least 1 day away from work or job transfer or restriction. Employers 
answer several questions about these cases, including the demographics 
of the worker, the nature of the disabling condition, the event and 
source producing that condition, and the part of body affected. A few 
of the data elements are optional for employers, most notably race and 
ethnicity; this resulted in 40 percent of the cases involving days away 
from work for which race and ethnicity were not reported in the 2016 
SOII.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handbook of Methods, Survey 
of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, p. 12 (last modified date 
October 30, 2020); https://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/soii/pdf/soii.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The presentation of SOII data is released in the fall and contains 
two data components. One, sometimes referred to as the summary, 
provides estimates of numbers and incidence rates of employer-reported 
nonfatal injuries and illnesses at the industry level for all types of 
cases. A second, sometimes referred to as the case and demographics 
data, details case circumstances and worker characteristics for the 
subset of the cases that involved days away from work.\4\ Prepared 
tables containing the data can be found for industry data at https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htm and for case and demographics at https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcdnew.htm. A schedule of releases from the Injuries, 
Illnesses, and Fatalities program, which includes SOII, can be found at 
https://www.bls.gov/iif/osh_nwrl.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ BLS started collecting nationally representative job 
transfer and restriction cases in January 2022. BLS will begin 
publishing biennial case and demographic estimates using these data 
in November 2023. BLS will continue to publish summary industry 
estimates annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In contrast, under the current data collection, OSHA annually 
collects information from the OSHA Form 300A Annual Summary from two 
groups of establishments:
    1. Under Sec.  1904.41(a)(1), from establishments with 20 or more

[[Page 18533]]

employees in industries included in appendix A to subpart E of part 
1904, and
    2. under Sec.  1904.41(a)2), from establishments with 250 or more 
employees in all industries that are routinely required to keep OSHA 
injury and illness records.
    OSHA publishes this information on its website at https://www.osha.gov/Establishment-Specific-Injury-and-Illness-Data. OSHA is 
proposing to revise this data collection to include information from 
the OSHA Form 300 Log and Form 301 Incident Report from establishments 
with 100 or more employees in certain industries.

G. Benefits of Establishment-Specific, Case-Specific Data Collection 
and Publication

    As discussed in more detail below, the proposed rule would amend 
Sec.  1904.41 to require establishments with 100 or more employees in 
certain designated industries to electronically submit injury and 
illness information from all three recordkeeping forms to OSHA once a 
year (see proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2)). All of the establishments that 
would be subject to this proposed section are already required to 
annually submit information from their Form 300A, but these 
establishments would be newly required to also annually submit certain 
information from their Forms 300 and 301.
    The proposed requirement for the electronic submission of 
establishment-specific, case-specific information from the Forms 300 
and 301, and the subsequent publication of certain establishment-
specific, case-specific data elements would have numerous benefits.
    The main purpose of the proposed rule is to prevent worker injuries 
and illnesses through the collection and use of timely, establishment-
specific injury and illness data. With the information obtained through 
this proposed rule, employers, employees, employee representatives, the 
government, and researchers would be better able to identify and 
mitigate workplace hazards and thereby prevent worker injuries and 
illnesses.
    The proposed rule would support OSHA's statutory directive to 
``assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation 
safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human 
resources'' (29 U.S.C. 651(b)) ``by providing for appropriate reporting 
procedures with respect to occupational safety and health which 
procedures will help achieve the objectives of this Act and accurately 
describe the nature of the occupational safety and health problem'' (29 
U.S.C. 651(b)(12)).
    The importance of this rule in preventing worker injuries and 
illnesses can be understood in the context of workplace safety and 
health in the United States today. The number of workers injured or 
made ill on the job remains unacceptably high. According to the SOII, 
each year employees experience 3 million serious (requiring more than 
first aid) injuries and illnesses at work, and this number is widely 
recognized to be an undercount of the actual number of occupational 
injuries and illnesses that occur annually. OSHA currently has limited 
information about the injury/illness risks facing workers in specific 
establishments, and the proposed rule would increase the agency's 
ability to focus resources on those workplaces where workers are at 
high risk.
    However, even with improved targeting, OSHA Compliance Safety and 
Health Officers can inspect only a small proportion of the nation's 
workplaces each year, and it would take many decades to inspect each 
covered workplace in the nation even once. As a result, to reduce 
worker injuries and illnesses, it is of great importance for OSHA to 
increase its impact on the many thousands of establishments where 
workers are being injured or made ill but which OSHA does not have the 
resources to inspect. Public access to the collected establishment-
specific, case-specific information may encourage employers to abate 
hazards and thereby prevent injuries and illnesses, so that the 
employer's establishment can be seen by members of the public, 
including investors and job seekers, as one in which the risk to 
workers' safety and health is low.
    A requirement for the electronic submission of establishment-
specific, case-specific recordkeeping data would help OSHA encourage 
employers to prevent worker injuries and illnesses by greatly expanding 
OSHA's access to the establishment-specific, case-specific information 
employers are already required to record under part 1904. As described 
in the previous section, OSHA currently does not have systematic access 
to this information. OSHA has limited access to case-specific, 
establishment-specific injury and illness information in a particular 
year. Typically, OSHA only has access if the establishment was 
inspected.
    The proposed rule's provisions requiring regular electronic 
submission of case-specific injury and illness data would allow OSHA to 
obtain a much larger data set of establishment-specific, case-specific 
information about injuries and illnesses in the workplace. This 
information would help OSHA use its enforcement and compliance 
assistance resources more effectively by enabling OSHA to identify the 
workplaces where workers are at high risk.
    For example, OSHA could send hazard-specific educational materials 
to employers who report high rates of injuries or illnesses related to 
those hazards. In addition, OSHA would be able to use the information 
to identify emerging hazards, support an agency response, and reach out 
to employers whose workplaces might include those hazards. The data 
collection would also enable the agency to focus its Emphasis Program 
inspections on establishments with specific hazards, such as trench and 
excavation collapses (see CPL 02-00-161, October 1, 2018). OSHA would 
be better able to refer employers who report certain types of injuries/
illnesses to OSHA's free on-site consultation program. OSHA would also 
be able to add specific hazards or types of injury or illness to the 
Site Specific Targeting (SST) program, which currently is based on 
establishments' overall injury/illness rates.
    The new collection would provide establishment-specific, case-
specific injury and illness data for analyses that are not currently 
possible. For example, OSHA could analyze the data collected under this 
system to assess changes in types and rates of particular injuries or 
illnesses in a particular industry over time. It would also enable OSHA 
to conduct rigorous evaluations of different types of programs, 
initiatives, and interventions in different industries and geographic 
areas, enabling the agency to become more effective and efficient.
    In addition, publication of establishment-specific, case-specific 
injury and illness data would benefit the majority of employers who 
want to prevent injuries and illnesses among their employees, through 
several mechanisms. First, the information would enable interested 
parties to gauge the full range of injury and illness case types at the 
establishment. Second, employers could compare case-specific injury and 
illness information at their establishments to those at comparable 
establishments, and set workplace safety/health goals benchmarked to 
the establishments they consider most comparable. Third, online 
availability of case-specific, establishment-specific injury and 
illness information would allow employees to compare their own 
workplaces to the safest workplaces in their industries. In addition, 
if employees were able to preferentially choose employment at the 
safest

[[Page 18534]]

workplaces in their industries, then employers might take steps to 
improve workplace safety and health (preventing injuries and illnesses 
from occurring) in order to attract and retain employees.
    Fourth, access to these data could improve the workings of the 
labor market by providing more complete information to job seekers, 
and, as a result, encourage employers to abate hazards in order to 
attract more in-demand employees. Using data newly accessible under 
this proposed rule, potential employees could examine the case-specific 
information at establishments where they are interested in working, to 
help them make a more informed decision about a future place of 
employment. This could also encourage employers with more hazardous 
workplaces in a given industry to make improvements in workplace safety 
and health, because potential employees, especially the ones whose 
skills are most in demand, might be reluctant to work at more hazardous 
establishments. In addition, this would help address a problem of 
information asymmetry in the labor market, where the businesses with 
the greatest problems have the lowest incentive to self-disclose.
    Disclosure of and access to case-specific injury and illness data 
have the potential to improve research on the distribution and 
determinants of workplace injuries and illnesses, and therefore to 
prevent workplace injuries and illnesses from occurring. Using data 
collected under the proposed rule, researchers might identify 
previously unrecognized patterns of injuries and illnesses across 
establishments where workers are exposed to similar hazards. Such 
research would be especially useful in identifying hazards that result 
in a small number of injuries or illnesses in each establishment but a 
large number overall, due to a wide distribution of those hazards in a 
particular area, industry, or establishment type. Case-specific data 
made available under this proposed rule could also allow researchers to 
identify patterns of injuries or illnesses that are masked by the 
aggregated, establishment-level data currently available.
    The availability of establishment-specific injury and illness data 
would also be of great use to county, state and territorial Departments 
of Health and other public institutions charged with injury and illness 
surveillance. In particular, aggregation of case-specific injury and 
illness data from similar establishments could facilitate 
identification of newly-emerging hazards. Public health surveillance 
programs must currently primarily rely on reporting of cases seen by 
medical practitioners, any one of whom would rarely see enough cases to 
identify an occupational etiology.
    Workplace safety and health professionals might use the case-
specific data to identify establishments whose injury/illness records 
suggest that the establishments would benefit from their services. In 
general, online access to this large database of case-specific injury 
and illness information could support the development of innovative 
ideas for improving workplace safety and health, and would allow 
everyone with a stake in workplace safety and health to participate in 
improving occupational safety and health.
    Furthermore, because the case-specific data would be publicly 
available, industries, trade associations, unions, and other groups 
representing employers and workers would be able to evaluate the 
effectiveness of privately-initiated injury and illness prevention 
initiatives that affect groups of establishments. In addition, linking 
these data with data residing in other administrative data sets would 
enable researchers to conduct rigorous studies that would increase our 
understanding of injury causation, prevention, and consequences. For 
example, by combining these data with data collected in the Annual 
Survey of Manufactures (conducted by the United States Census Bureau), 
it would be possible to examine the impact of a range of management 
practices on specific injury and illness types, and in turn the impact 
of those injury and illness types on the financial status of employers.
    And finally, public access to these data would also enable software 
developers to develop tools that facilitate use of these data by 
employers, workers, researchers, consumers and others.

II. Legal Authority

    OSHA is issuing this proposed rule pursuant to authority expressly 
granted by several provisions of the OSH Act that address the recording 
and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses. Section 2(b)(12) 
of the OSH Act states that one of the purposes of the OSH Act is to 
``assure so far as possible . . . safe and healthful working conditions 
. . . by providing for appropriate reporting procedures . . . which 
will help achieve the objective of th[e] Act and accurately describe 
the nature of the occupational safety and health problem.'' 29 U.S.C. 
651(b)(12). Section 8(c)(1) requires each employer to ``make, keep and 
preserve, and make available to the Secretary [of Labor] or the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, such records regarding his 
activities relating to this Act as the Secretary . . . may prescribe by 
regulation as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of this Act 
or for developing information regarding the causes and prevention of 
occupational accidents and illnesses'' (29 U.S.C. 657(c)(1)). Section 
8(c)(2) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations ``requiring 
employers to maintain accurate records of, and to make periodic reports 
on, work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses other than minor 
injuries requiring only first aid treatment and which do not involve 
medical treatment, loss of consciousness, restriction of work or 
motion, or transfer to another job'' (29 U.S.C. 657(c)(2)).
    Section 8(g)(1) authorizes the Secretary ``to compile, analyze, and 
publish, whether in summary or detailed form, all reports or 
information obtained under this section.'' Section 8(g)(2) of the Act 
broadly empowers the Secretary ``to prescribe such rules and 
regulations as he may deem necessary to carry out his responsibilities 
under th[e] Act.'' 29 U.S.C. 657(g)(2).
    Section 24 of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 673) contains a similar grant 
of authority. This section requires the Secretary to ``develop and 
maintain an effective program of collection, compilation, and analysis 
of occupational safety and health statistics'' and ``compile accurate 
statistics on work injuries and illnesses which shall include all 
disabling, serious, or significant injuries and illnesses . . .'' (29 
U.S.C. 673(a)). Section 24 also requires employers to ``file such 
reports with the Secretary as he shall prescribe by regulation'' (29 
U.S.C. 673(e)). These reports are to be based on ``the records made and 
kept pursuant to Sec.  8(c) of this Act'' (29 U.S.C. 673(e)).
    Section 20 of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 669, contains additional implicit 
authority for collecting and disseminating data on occupational 
injuries and illnesses. Section 20(a) empowers the Secretaries of Labor 
and Health and Human Services to consult on research concerning 
occupational safety and health problems, and provides for the use of 
such research, ``and other information available,'' in developing 
criteria on toxic materials and harmful physical agents. Section 20(d) 
states that ``[i]nformation obtained by the Secretary . . . under this 
section shall be disseminated by the Secretary to employers and 
employees and organizations thereof.''

[[Page 18535]]

    Further support for the Secretary's authority to require employers 
to keep and submit records of work-related illnesses and injuries can 
be found in the Congressional Findings and Purpose at the beginning of 
the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 651). In this section, Congress declares the 
overarching purpose of the Act to be ``to assure so far as possible 
every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working 
conditions'' (29 U.S.C. 651(b)). One of the ways in which the Act is 
meant to achieve this goal is ``by providing for appropriate reporting 
procedures. . .[that] will help achieve the objectives of this Act and 
accurately describe the nature of the occupational safety and health 
problem'' (29 U.S.C. 651(b)(12)).
    The OSH Act authorizes the Secretary of Labor to issue two types of 
occupational safety and health rules: Standards and regulations. 
Standards, which are authorized by section 6 of the Act, aim to correct 
particular identified workplace hazards, while regulations further the 
general enforcement and detection purposes of the OSH Act (see 
Workplace Health & Safety Council v. Reich, 56 F.3d 1465, 1468 (D.C. 
Cir. 1995) (citing La. Chem. Ass'n v. Bingham, 657 F.2d 777, 781-82 
(5th Cir. 1981)); United Steelworkers of Am. v. Auchter, 763 F.2d 728, 
735 (3d Cir. 1985)). Recordkeeping requirements promulgated under the 
Act are characterized as regulations (see 29 U.S.C. 657 (using the term 
``regulations'' to describe recordkeeping requirements); see also 
Workplace Health & Safety Council v. Reich, 56 F.3d 1465, 1468 (D.C. 
Cir. 1995) (citing La. Chem. Ass'n. v. Bingham, 657 F.2d 777, 781-82 
(5th Cir. 1981); United Steelworkers of Am. v. Auchter, 763 F.2d 728, 
735 (3d Cir. 1985)).
    This proposed rule does not infringe on employers' Fourth Amendment 
rights. The Fourth Amendment protects against searches and seizures of 
private property by the government, but only when a person has a 
``legitimate expectation of privacy'' in the object of the search or 
seizure (Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 143-47 (1978)). There is 
little or no expectation of privacy in records that are required by the 
government to be kept and made available (Free Speech Coalition v. 
Holder, 729 F. Supp. 2d 691, 747, 750-51 (E.D. Pa. 2010) (citing 
cases); United States v. Miller, 425 U.S. 435, 442-43 (1976); cf. 
Shapiro v. United States, 335 U.S. 1, 33 (1948) (no Fifth Amendment 
interest in required records)). Accordingly, the Fourth Circuit held, 
in McLaughlin v. A.B. Chance, that an employer has little expectation 
of privacy in the records of occupational injuries and illnesses kept 
pursuant to OSHA regulations, and must disclose them to the agency on 
request (842 F.2d 724, 727-28 (4th Cir. 1988)).
    Even if there were an expectation of privacy, the Fourth Amendment 
prohibits only unreasonable intrusions by the government (Kentucky v. 
King, 131 S. Ct. 1849, 1856 (2011)). The information submission 
requirement in this proposed rule is reasonable. The proposed 
requirement serves a substantial government interest in the health and 
safety of workers, has a strong statutory basis, and rests on 
reasonable, objective criteria for determining which employers must 
report information to OSHA (see New York v. Burger, 482 U.S. 691, 702-
703 (1987)).
    OSHA notes that two courts have held, contrary to A.B. Chance, that 
the Fourth Amendment requires prior judicial review of the 
reasonableness of an OSHA field inspector's demand for access to injury 
and illness logs before the agency could issue a citation for denial of 
access (McLaughlin v. Kings Island, 849 F.2d 990 (6th Cir. 1988); Brock 
v. Emerson Electric Co., 834 F.2d 994 (11th Cir. 1987)). Those 
decisions are inapposite here. The courts based their rulings on a 
concern that field enforcement staff had unbridled discretion to choose 
the employers they would inspect and the circumstances in which they 
would demand access to employer records. The Emerson Electric court 
specifically noted that in situations where ``businesses or individuals 
are required to report particular information to the government on a 
regular basis[,] a uniform statutory or regulatory reporting 
requirement [would] satisf[y] the Fourth Amendment concern regarding 
the potential for arbitrary invasions of privacy'' (834 F.2d at 997, 
n.2). This proposed rule, like that hypothetical, establishes general 
reporting requirements based on objective criteria and does not vest 
field staff with any discretion. The employers that are required to 
report data, the information they must report, and the time when they 
must report it are clearly identified in the text of the rule and in 
supplemental notices that will be published pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.
    Additionally, with regard to publication of collected data, FOIA 
generally supports OSHA's intention to publish information on a 
publicly available website. FOIA provides that certain Federal agency 
records must be routinely made ``available for public inspection and 
copying'' in agency reading rooms. See, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) (2000). 
These reading rooms contain basic agency materials such as agency 
manuals, specific agency policy statements, and opinions developed in 
the adjudication of cases. Subsection (a)(2) provides that agencies 
must include any records processed and disclosed in response to a FOIA 
request that ``the agency determines have become or are likely to 
become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same 
records.''
    Based on its experience, OSHA believes that the recordkeeping 
information from the Forms 300, 301, and 300A required to be submitted 
under this proposed rule will likely be the subject of multiple FOIA 
requests in the future. As such, the agency plans to place the 
recordkeeping information that will be posted on the public OSHA 
website in its Electronic FOIA Library. Since agencies may ``withhold'' 
(i.e., not make available) a record (or portion of such a record) if it 
falls within a FOIA exemption, just as they can do in response to FOIA 
requests, OSHA will place the published information in its FOIA Library 
consistent with all FOIA exemptions.

III. Summary and Explanation of the Proposed Rule

A. Description of Proposed Revisions

1. Section 1904.41(a)(1)--Annual Electronic Submission of Information 
From OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by 
Establishments With 20 or More Employees in Designated Industries
    Under proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(1), establishments that had 20 or 
more employees at any time during the previous calendar year, and are 
classified in an industry listed in appendix A to subpart E, would be 
required to electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A 
to OSHA or OSHA's designee once a year. The current recordkeeping 
regulation requires two categories of establishments to electronically 
submit information from their Form 300A to OSHA on an annual basis. 
First, current Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) requires establishments with 250 or 
more employees at any time during the previous calendar year, in all 
industries that are routinely required to keep OSHA injury and illness 
records, to electronically submit information from their 300A to OSHA 
once a year. Second, current Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) requires 
establishments with 20-249 employees at any time during the previous 
calendar year, in industries listed in appendix A to subpart E of part 
1904, to electronically submit information from

[[Page 18536]]

their OSHA 300A to OSHA or OSHA's designee once a year.
    The proposed rule would not impose any new requirements on 
establishments to electronically submit information from their Form 
300A to OSHA. All establishments that would be required to 
electronically submit Form 300A information to OSHA on an annual basis 
under the proposed rule are already subject to that requirement under 
the current regulation. This includes all of the establishments with 
250 or more employees that would be required to electronically submit 
information to OSHA under proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2), which are 
already required to submit this information under the current 
regulation at Sec.  1904.41(a)(1).
    As discussed in more detail below, proposed Sec.  1904.41(a) would 
remove the electronic submission requirement for certain establishments 
with 250 or more employees. Currently, all establishments of this size 
in industries routinely required to keep injury and illness records are 
required to electronically submit information from their Form 300A to 
OSHA once a year. The proposal requires this submission only for the 
establishments in industries listed in appendix A. OSHA believes that 
only a small number of establishments would be excluded by the 
proposal. In calendar year 2020, 2,665 establishments with 250 or more 
employees, in an industry not in current appendix A to subpart E, 
submitted information from their 2019 Form 300A to OSHA. Under proposed 
Sec.  1904.41(a), these establishments would no longer be required to 
electronically submit Form 300A data to OSHA.\5\ The agency has 
preliminarily determined that collecting Form 300A data from this 
relatively small number of large establishments in lower-hazard 
industries is not a priority for OSHA inspection targeting or 
compliance assistance activities.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See docket exhibit OSHA-2021-006-0003 for the list of 
industries in which establishments with 250 or more employees would 
no longer be required to electronically submit Form 300A data to 
OSHA.
    \6\ In 2016, OSHA established the list of industries in current 
appendix A to subpart E based on a 2011-2013 three-year-average Days 
Away, Restriction, and Job Transfer (DART) rate greater than 2.0 in 
the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, OSHA proposes to revise appendix A to subpart E to 
update the list of designated industries to conform with the 2017 
version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 
The Office of Management and Budget, through its Economic 
Classification Policy Committee (ECPC), reviews and considers revisions 
for NAICS, a statistical classification system, every five years. In 
2016, when OSHA revised Sec.  1904.41, the agency used the 2012 version 
of NAICS to designate the industries in which establishments with 20-
249 employees were required to electronically submit Form 300A data to 
OSHA. (See current appendix A to subpart E of part 1904). The Office of 
Management and Budget has since issued two updates to the NAICS codes: 
2017 NAICS codes and 2022 NAICS codes. The update from 2012 NAICS to 
2017 NAICS would have the benefit of using more current NAICS codes, as 
well as ensuring that both proposed appendix A and proposed appendix B 
(referenced in proposed Sec.  1904.41) use the same version of NAICS. 
As explained below, the industries in proposed appendix B are a subset 
of the industries in appendix A. Also, the 2017 version of NAICS is the 
version currently used by BLS for the SOII data that OSHA is using for 
this rulemaking, and employers are likely more familiar with the 2017 
industry codes.
    This proposed revision would not impact which industries are 
covered and therefore required to provide their data.\7\ It would 
merely reflect the updated 2017 NAICS codes. For appendix A, OSHA is 
limiting the scope of this rulemaking to the proposed update from the 
2012 version of NAICS to the 2017 version of NAICS. Other changes to 
appendix A are not within the scope of this rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Note that the proposed rule would remove NAICS 7213, Rooming 
and Boarding Houses, from proposed appendix A to subpart E. That 
specific NAICS industry group, which is listed in the part 1904 Non-
Mandatory appendix A to subpart B--Partially Exempt Industries, is 
not routinely required to keep OSHA injury and illness records. 
However, that NAICS industry group was mistakenly included in 
appendix A to subpart E when OSHA published the 2016 final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For proposed (i.e., updated) appendix A, the change from the 2012 
NAICS to the 2017 NAICS would affect only a few industry groups at the 
4-digit NAICS level. Specifically, the 2012 NAICS industry group 4521 
(Department Stores) is split between the 2017 NAICS industry groups 
4522 (Department Stores) and 4523 (General Merchandise Stores, 
including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters). Also, the 2012 NAICS 
industry group 4529 (Other General Merchandise Stores) is included in 
2017 NAICS industry group 4523 (General Merchandise Stores, including 
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters).
    The proposed revised appendix A is as follows:

                           Proposed Appendix A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       2017 NAICS code                     2017 NAICS title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11..........................  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and
                               hunting.
22..........................  Utilities.
23..........................  Construction.
31-33.......................  Manufacturing.
42..........................  Wholesale trade.
4413........................  Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire
                               Stores.
4421........................  Furniture Stores.
4422........................  Home Furnishings Stores.
4441........................  Building Material and Supplies Dealers.
4442........................  Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies
                               Stores.
4451........................  Grocery Stores.
4452........................  Specialty Food Stores.
4522........................  Department Stores.
4523........................  General Merchandise Stores, including
                               Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters.
4533........................  Used Merchandise Stores.
4542........................  Vending Machine Operators.
4543........................  Direct Selling Establishments.
4811........................  Scheduled Air Transportation.
4841........................  General Freight Trucking.

[[Page 18537]]

 
4842........................  Specialized Freight Trucking.
4851........................  Urban Transit Systems.
4852........................  Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation.
4853........................  Taxi and Limousine Service.
4854........................  School and Employee Bus Transportation.
4855........................  Charter Bus Industry.
4859........................  Other Transit and Ground Passenger
                               Transportation.
4871........................  Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation,
                               Land.
4881........................  Support Activities for Air Transportation.
4882........................  Support Activities for Rail
                               Transportation.
4883........................  Support Activities for Water
                               Transportation.
4884........................  Support Activities for Road
                               Transportation.
4889........................  Other Support Activities for
                               Transportation.
4911........................  Postal Service.
4921........................  Couriers and Express Delivery Services.
4922........................  Local Messengers and Local Delivery.
4931........................  Warehousing and Storage.
5152........................  Cable and Other Subscription Programming.
5311........................  Lessors of Real Estate.
5321........................  Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing.
5322........................  Consumer Goods Rental.
5323........................  General Rental Centers.
5617........................  Services to Buildings and Dwellings.
5621........................  Waste Collection.
5622........................  Waste Treatment and Disposal.
5629........................  Remediation and Other Waste Management
                               Services.
6219........................  Other Ambulatory Health Care Services.
6221........................  General Medical and Surgical Hospitals.
6222........................  Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals.
6223........................  Specialty (except Psychiatric and
                               Substance Abuse) Hospitals.
6231........................  Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing
                               Facilities).
6232........................  Residential Intellectual and Developmental
                               Disability, Mental Health, and Substance
                               Abuse Facilities.
6233........................  Continuing Care Retirement Communities and
                               Assisted Living Facilities for the
                               Elderly.
6239........................  Other Residential Care Facilities.
6242........................  Community Food and Housing, and Emergency
                               and Other Relief Services.
6243........................  Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
7111........................  Performing Arts Companies.
7112........................  Spectator Sports.
7121........................  Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar
                               Institutions.
7131........................  Amusement Parks and Arcades.
7132........................  Gambling Industries.
7211........................  Traveler Accommodation.
7212........................  RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and
                               Recreational Camps.
7223........................  Special Food Services.
8113........................  Commercial and Industrial Machinery and
                               Equipment (except Automotive and
                               Electronic) Repair and Maintenance.
8123........................  Drycleaning and Laundry Services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA welcomes public comment on the proposed changes to Sec.  
1904.41(a)(1).
2. Section 1904.41(a)(2)--Annual Electronic Submission of OSHA Form 
300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 300 Log 
of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and OSHA Form 301 Injury and 
Illness Incident Report by Establishments With 100 or More Employees in 
Designated Industries
    Section 1904.41(a)(2) of the proposed rule would add a requirement 
for establishments that had 100 or more employees at any time during 
the previous calendar year, and that are in an industry listed in 
proposed appendix B to subpart E, to electronically submit to OSHA or 
OSHA's designee once a year, certain information from the OSHA Forms 
300, 301, and 300A.
    The requirement in proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) for the submission 
of 300A data by establishments with 100 or more employees in industries 
listed in proposed appendix B to subpart E would not be new. All of the 
establishments with 100 or more employees in industries listed in 
proposed appendix B to subpart E are already required to electronically 
submit 300A data to OSHA once a year under current 29 CFR 1904.41. 
However, the proposed requirement for the electronic submission of data 
from the 300 and 301 forms would be new.
    As discussed above in the Regulatory History section of this 
preamble, in 2016, OSHA issued a final rule that revised the 
recordkeeping regulation at 29 CFR 1904.41 to require establishments 
with 250 or more employees that are routinely required to keep injury 
and illness records to electronically submit information from their 300 
and 301 forms to OSHA once a year. The 300 and 301 data submission 
requirement from the 2016 rulemaking was never fully implemented, and 
OSHA never collected 300 and 301 data electronically from employers 
covered by the requirements in the 2016 final rule.
    In 2019, OSHA issued a final rule that removed the requirement for 
the annual electronic submission of 300 and 301 data to OSHA. In the 
preamble to the 2019 final rule, OSHA explained that the 300/301 
submission requirement

[[Page 18538]]

was being removed because the collection of such data would expose 
sensitive worker information to a meaningful risk of disclosure, and 
that ``OSHA cannot justify that risk given its resource allocation 
concerns and the uncertain incremental benefits to OSHA of collecting 
the data'' (84 FR 387). In addition, ``OSHA . . . determined that the 
best use of its resources [was] to focus on data it already receives--
including a large set of data from Form 300A, as well as discrete data 
about urgent issues from severe injury reports--and has found useful in 
its past experience'' (84 FR 387).
    OSHA has preliminarily determined that the reasons given in the 
preamble to the 2019 final rule for the removal of the 300 and 301 data 
submission requirement are no longer compelling. As discussed in more 
detail below, recent advancements in technology have reduced the risk 
that information that reasonably identifies individuals directly, such 
as name and contact information, will be disclosed to the public. The 
improved technology used to protect sensitive employee data will reduce 
costs and resource-allocation issues for OSHA by eliminating the need 
to manually identify and remove information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly from submitted data. In addition, the improved 
technology has decreased the resources required to analyze the data. 
Moreover, because of these improvements, OSHA is now better able to 
collect, analyze, and publish data from the 300 and 301 forms, so the 
anticipated benefits of collecting the data are more certain. The 
collection of case-specific data will allow the agency to focus its 
enforcement and compliance assistance resources based on hazard-
specific information and trends, and to increase its ability to 
identify emerging hazards, at the establishment level. Accordingly, at 
this point, the significant benefits of collecting establishment-
specific, case-specific data from the 300 and 301 forms outweigh the 
slight risk to employee privacy.
    To this point in time, OSHA has successfully collected reference 
year 2016 through 2020 Form 300A data through the OSHA Injury Tracking 
Application. Approximately 300,000 records have been submitted to the 
agency each year. OSHA has successfully analyzed these data to identify 
establishments with elevated injury and illness rates and has focused 
both its enforcement and outreach resources towards these 
establishments. This experience demonstrates OSHA's ability to collect, 
analyze, and use large volumes of data to interact with establishments 
where workers are being injured or becoming ill. However, this same 
experience has demonstrated the limits of the data currently collected. 
For example, OSHA is currently developing a National Emphasis Program 
to address the hazards associated with environmental heat. Without 
case-specific injury and illness data, the agency is unable to identify 
specific establishments where workers are suffering work-related heat 
disorders. The Summary data from Form 300A do not provide the level of 
detail required to address specific occupational hazards.
    Based on the agency's experience with collecting and using the Form 
300A data and the development of a system to auto-code case-specific 
data, OSHA is now better able to collect, analyze, and publish data 
from the 300 and 301 forms, so the anticipated benefits of collecting 
the data are more certain.
a. The Data Collection Will Adequately Protect Information That 
Reasonably Identifies Individuals Directly
    As explained in the 2019 final rule, OSHA Forms 300 and 301 contain 
information that reasonably identifies individuals directly, such as 
name, contact information, date of birth, and physician name, for the 
workers who experienced a recordable injury or illness. The OSHA Forms 
300 and 301 also contain fields that are not direct identifiers but 
that could act as indirect identifiers if released and combined with 
other information, such as job title on the Form 300, time employee 
began work on the Form 301, and date of death on the Form 301.
    In this rulemaking, OSHA has preliminarily determined that the 
proposed data collection would adequately protect information that 
reasonably identifies individuals directly, such as name and address, 
with multiple layers of protection, including by limiting the amount of 
information submitted by employers; reminding employers not to submit 
information that reasonably identifies individuals directly; 
withholding certain fields from disclosure; and using automated 
information technology to detect and remove information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly. In particular, advances in neural 
networks and machine learning have strengthened OSHA's ability to 
protect information that reasonably identifies individuals directly.
    First, the proposed rule would protect information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly by limiting the amount of information 
submitted by employers. Under proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(9), for the 300 
Log, OSHA does not intend to collect employees' names (column B). For 
the 301 Incident Report, OSHA will not collect the following 
information: Employee name (field 1), employee address (field 2), name 
of physician or other health care professional (field 6), and facility 
name and address if treatment was given away from the worksite (field 
7). Since these fields would not be collected, there would be no risk 
of public disclosure of the data in these fields.
    In addition, OSHA plans to limit the information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly collected in the system by posting 
reminders to employers to omit information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly, such as names, addresses, or Social Security 
numbers, from the text fields they submit. OSHA routinely uses these 
types of instructions, such as when it requests comments from 
stakeholders in rulemakings such as this one (see ``Instructions'' on 
submitting comments above), and has found these reminders to be an 
effective manner of preventing the unintentional submission and 
collection of personal information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly. Again, if this information is not submitted in 
the first place, there will be no risk of its disclosure to the public.
    Second, OSHA plans to design the collection system to provide extra 
protections for some of the personal information that employers would 
be required to submit under the proposal. Specifically, the proposal 
would require employers to submit the employee's date of birth from 
OSHA Form 301 (Field 3 on OSHA Form 301). However, the agency plans to 
design the collection system so that it will immediately calculate the 
employee's age based on the date of birth entered and then store only 
the employee's age, not their date of birth.
    Third, as described in more detail below, OSHA would seek to 
protect information that reasonably identifies individuals directly and 
certain other elements of personal information submitted under the 
proposed rule by withholding certain fields from public disclosure. The 
OSHA Form 301, Fields 1 through 9 (the left side of the 301), includes 
personal information about the injured or ill employee as well as the 
physician or other health care professional. Under the provisions about 
access to employees and employee representatives in OSHA's 
recordkeeping regulation, Sec.  1904.35(b)(2)(v)(A) and (B) prohibit 
the release of information in fields 1

[[Page 18539]]

through 9 to individuals other than the employee or former employee who 
suffered the injury or illness and his or her personal representatives. 
As noted above, OSHA's proposal would not require employers to submit 
some of those items (fields 1, employee full name; 2, employee address; 
6, name of physician or other health care professional; and 7, 
treatment location). In addition, consistent with Sec.  
1904.35(b)(2)(v)(A) and (B), OSHA proposes to collect but would not 
release the information from the remaining fields that are likely to 
contain private worker information: Age (calculated from date of birth 
in field 3), date hired (field 4), gender (field 5), whether the 
employee was treated in the emergency room (field 8), and whether the 
employee was hospitalized overnight as an in-patient (field 9). Thus, 
there would be little risk of public disclosure of this information.
    Fourth, as explained above, consistent with FOIA, OSHA does not 
intend to release or post information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly collected through proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) 
and, via the use of the protective measures described above and the 
scrubbing technology described below, the agency preliminarily finds 
that it can effectively remove such information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly before releasing or posting the data. 
Moreover, OSHA notes that the 2019 rulemaking took an expansive view of 
the term ``PII.'' For example, in that rule, OSHA regarded information 
such as descriptions of workers' injuries and the body parts affected 
(Field F on Form 300, Field 16 on Form 301), as ``quite sensitive,'' 
and stated that public disclosure of this information under FOIA or 
through the OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) would pose a risk to 
worker privacy. As further justification for deciding to rescind the 
requirement to submit information from Forms 300 and 301, the agency 
stated that ``although OSHA believes data from Forms 300 and 301 would 
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA exemptions, OSHA is concerned that 
it still could be required by a court to release the data'' (84 FR 
383).
    After further consideration, OSHA has preliminarily determined that 
the 2019 rule's position on such information is at odds with the 
agency's usual practice of releasing such data. OSHA currently collects 
these forms from employers during inspections and, when the agency 
receives a FOIA request to which these records are responsive, the only 
field on OSHA Form 300 that is always withheld from disclosure under 
the FOIA is employee name (column B). Similarly, OSHA has often 
released the fields on the right-hand side of the OSHA Form 301 (fields 
10 through 18) in response to FOIA requests. And the agency has 
regularly released similar information contained in the OSHA 
Information System (OIS) database in response to FOIA requests. For 
example, OSHA regularly releases data in the Hazard Description and 
Location field in closed cases in OIS, which often contains specific 
information about injuries. This practice of producing such case-
specific information is long-standing, and the agency has not been 
notified of issues regarding employee identification or re-
identification, despite that some of the released fields could act as 
indirect identifiers if combined with additional information or data 
external to the agency release or already in the requestor's 
possession.
    In addition, OSHA uses FOIA Exemption 7(c) to withhold from 
disclosure information that reasonably identifies individuals directly, 
such as Social Security numbers or telephone numbers, included anywhere 
on the three OSHA recordkeeping forms. In addition, FOIA Exemption 6 
protects information about individuals in ``personnel and medical and 
similar files'' when the disclosure of such information ``would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.'' [5 
U.S.C. 552(b)(6)]. Thus, for example, although OSHA sometimes releases 
information in Field 15 of the 301 incident report (``Tell us how the 
injury occurred'') in response to a FOIA request, it redacts 
information that reasonably identifies individuals directly, such as a 
name or Social Security number, by applying either Exemption 6, which 
permits the withholding of information contained in personnel and 
medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, or 
Exemption 7(C), which protects information found in law enforcement 
files where disclosure could reasonably be expected to constitute an 
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
    Finally, OSHA preliminarily finds that existing privacy scrubbing 
technology is capable of de-identifying certain information that 
reasonably identifies individuals directly (such as name, phone number, 
email address, etc.) that may be submitted by employers to the system. 
As explained in the 2019 rulemaking, in order for OSHA to avoid 
publishing information that reasonably identifies individuals directly 
that may be contained within text fields in the employer-submitted 300 
and 301 data, information that reasonably identifies individuals 
directly that has been submitted must be identified and removed. The 
large volume of information from text fields submitted under the 
proposed requirement would preclude human review and redaction of 
information that reasonably identifies individuals directly without 
great expenditure of resources. However, there are recent advances in 
automated computer programs that can detect information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly, and which can be customized to also 
replace submitted text strings with placeholder characters or 
anonymized descriptive phrasing that indicate what type of information 
was replaced. This replacement process anonymizes and improves 
readability of the text entry. For example, a telephone number would be 
replaced with the word ``[number]'' or ``[telephone number],'' 
formatted to indicate a replacement has occurred.
    In general, the tasks of detecting and categorizing information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly can be accomplished 
either by automated systems using rules-based methods, machine-learning 
methods, deep learning, or hybrid approaches using Natural Language 
Processing (NLP). NLP refers to computer algorithms that both recognize 
and categorize text strings according to tested business rules. Machine 
learning methods typically refer to trained automated de-identification 
using labeled test datasets to develop relationships within the wording 
of, in this case, text fields in the Forms 300 and 301. With this 
approach, the statistical likelihood of phrases and wording being 
information that reasonably identifies individuals directly can be 
calculated based on evaluating the word or phrase as well as wording 
around a phrase and throughout the passage. Detection and anonymization 
rules developed with test datasets can be examined for accuracy, and 
revised as needed, by applying de-identification protocols to a 
separate set of test records or review by an independent expert prior 
to use.
    Deep learning systems apply detection algorithms in a fashion that 
mimics the non-linear processing of human neural networks. ``Deep'' 
refers to the number of layers through which the data are examined to 
extract higher level relationships in the input data. The statistical 
methods used for this approach are specific to the type of domain and 
type of information being processed (e.g., text or photographic 
images). Deep learning solutions to

[[Page 18540]]

classification of text, and the subcategory of de-identification, can 
yield results superior to classical machine-based learning in that they 
can capture contextual information in the passage. OSHA is committed to 
protecting information that reasonably identifies individuals directly 
such as name and address in published data, and the agency intends to 
test multiple applications for identifying and removing this 
information using a test database of the four free text fields, and 
then analyzing the results (including manual review) to identify the 
best product.
    AI or machine learning--the technology used to detect, redact, and 
remove information that reasonably identifies individuals directly from 
structured and unstructured data fields--has advanced rapidly in recent 
years. Many vendors, including large commercial vendors, provide 
solutions for securing information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly, including Cloud-based solutions and packages for 
detecting and redacting or removing information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly from unstructured text like the OSHA 
300 and 301 data fields. For example, Vendor A has a natural-language 
processing (NLP) service that uses machine learning to identify key 
words and phrases in unstructured text to detect and redact information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly by replacing the term 
of interest with a character. Vendor A's service automatically 
identifies personal (e.g., name, address, and age), financial (e.g., 
bank account and routing numbers and PINs), technical security (e.g., 
passwords, usernames, and IP addresses), and national (e.g., SSN and 
driver's license numbers) identifying information. Vendor A also has a 
HIPAA-eligible NLP for extracting health data from unstructured text/
data fields, thus protecting patient information. The initial release 
date for Vendor A's product was November 29, 2017. Similarly, Vendor B 
offers a service to detect, categorize, and remove personal identifying 
information (PII) and personal health information (PHI) in unstructured 
text across several pre-defined categories (e.g., name, job types, 
email, address, phone); the initial release date for Vendor B's product 
was March 1, 2018. Vendor C provides an open-source package for 
identification, anonymization, and redaction of certain PII in 
structured and unstructured text; the initial release date for Vendor 
C's product was March 21, 2018. Vendor D provides a similar product 
that de-identifies sensitive data in text by replacing it with a token, 
symbol, or key thereby hiding the sensitive data. The hidden data can 
only be restored with a specific key or token that was used to de-
identify the data. The initial release date for Vendor D's product was 
March 2, 2021. Each of these commercially available services is 
customizable and could be modified to identify and remove information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly such as name and 
address from the 300 and 301 data collected.
    OSHA intends to test multiple AI or machine learning methods, 
including commercial services, and analyze the results carefully to 
select the best option to secure and protect information that 
reasonably identifies individuals directly, such as name and address. 
No option, including a manual review, is 100% effective. Therefore, 
OSHA could consider a combination of the selected scrubbing application 
supplemented by some manual review of the data to protect information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly.
    In summary, OSHA preliminarily finds that the agency would be able 
to adequately protect workers' information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly (such as name and address) using the safeguards in 
the proposed rule and OSHA's planned data collection system, in 
combination with warnings to employers and available automated 
information technology. In addition, the use of the automated 
informational technology would significantly decrease the need for the 
type of resource-intensive manual reviews that OSHA was concerned about 
in the 2019 rulemaking. Moreover, even if some of these data were 
ultimately used to identify employees, OSHA preliminarily finds that 
the benefits of collecting and publishing the data for improving safety 
and health outweigh potential privacy problems. As discussed below, the 
proposed data collection will further OSHA's statutory mission to 
assure safe and healthful working conditions for working people by 
providing data information for OSHA's targeting and compliance 
assistance efforts.
    OSHA expects a Privacy Impact Assessment to be completed before 
issuing the final rule. OSHA welcomes public comment on the issue of 
collecting data that includes PII and protecting information that 
reasonably identifies individuals directly such as name and address 
from disclosure.
b. Recent Technological Developments Have Significantly Decreased the 
Resources Needed for OSHA To Collect, Analyze, Use, and Publish 
Establishment-Specific, Case-Specific Data
    In addition to the worker privacy concerns, OSHA's decisions in the 
2019 final rule relied in part on resource concerns. The agency 
preliminarily finds that these concerns are no longer compelling, in 
part, because recent technological developments in automated data 
coding for text-based fields have made it easier and more cost 
effective for OSHA to efficiently use electronically-submitted, 
establishment-specific, case-specific injury and illness data to 
improve OSHA's ability to identify, target, and remove workplace safety 
and health hazards, resulting in the prevention of work-related 
fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. The specific estimated cost burden 
on OSHA and employers for data collection is discussed in the 
Preliminary Economic Analysis section, below.
    The primary information technology improvement relates to the 
coding of data. Specifically, in order to enable OSHA and stakeholders 
to undertake statistical analyses of information in text fields in the 
Forms 300 and 301, which include details regarding the circumstances 
and causes of workplace injuries and illnesses, OSHA intends to use 
automated systems to assign standardized codes based on the information 
contained in the text fields (e.g., type of accident is ``fall''). 
Automated, standardized coding of information in text fields would 
allow OSHA to easily identify individual establishments that have 
experienced injuries and illnesses of a focused interest (such as falls 
from heights), assess the effectiveness of employers' health and safety 
programs, and evaluate OSHA's assistance programs.
    Standardized coding of information from text fields in Forms 300 
and 301 is already being done by BLS. Each year, BLS collects SOII data 
from sampled OSHA Forms 300 and 301, with approximately 300,000 written 
descriptions of work-related injuries and illnesses collected by the 
survey. BLS uses the information provided on these OSHA forms to 
generate detailed statistics on the case characteristics of work-
related injuries or illnesses. In order to generate statistics, the 
text entries in the OSHA forms must be converted to standard BLS codes.
    SOII data are coded according to the BLS Occupational Injury and 
Illness Classification System (OIICS) (Version 2.01). Specific codes 
are assigned to the

[[Page 18541]]

narrative to classify case characteristics such as the nature of the 
injury/illness, the part of the body affected, the event or exposure, 
and the source of the injury or illness. Prior to 2014, BLS assigned 
OIICS codes to the case narratives manually, which was both time 
consuming and subject to error. In 2014, BLS began using machine 
learning to code a subset of cases, first by selecting a learning 
algorithm, then by training it on large quantities of previously coded 
SOII narratives. During this training process, the algorithm calculated 
how strongly various features, such as words, pairs of words, and other 
items, were associated with the codes that could be assigned. After the 
training process, the algorithm was used to estimate the best codes for 
each uncoded narrative and assigned the codes if the model's confidence 
exceeded a predetermined threshold.
    When codes were assigned manually, overall accuracy was around 71%. 
Accuracy with neural network autocoding was around 82%. Autocoding 
could be used for all the information collected but performance was 
worse on rarer codes. BLS decided to use a combination of autocoding 
and manual coding. From 2014 to 2017, the percent of codes 
automatically assigned rose to around 67%, but autocoding had reached a 
point of diminishing returns.
    With the old autocoder previously coded narratives were broken up 
into smaller pieces, typically individual words and short word 
sequences, and used to estimate how strongly each piece was associated 
with each possible code. New narratives were then coded by identifying 
their individual pieces and aggregating the previously learned 
associations to choose the most closely associated code. Some of the 
problems with the old autocoder included only identifying words in a 
phrase without thought to context, i.e., ``worker fell on car'' was the 
same as ``car fell on worker''; too many two- and three-word sequences; 
and separate autocoder models for each type of information, i.e., 
separate models for occupation, nature, part, event, and source.
    However, in 2018, BLS switched to deep neural networks. Like the 
older autocoder, neural networks rely on training data to learn and 
improve their accuracy over time. 2017 research found that the neural 
network autocoder outperformed the alternatives across all coding tasks 
and made an average of 24% fewer errors than the logistic regression 
autocoders, and an estimated 39% fewer errors than the manual coding 
process. On each task the neural network's accuracy was statistically 
greater than the next best alternative at a p-value of 0.001 or 
less.\8\ By 2019, automatic coding had been expanded to include all six 
primary coding tasks (occupation, nature, part, source, secondary 
source, and event) with the model assigning approximately 85% of these 
codes.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See ``Deep neural networks for worker injury autocoding'', 
Alexander Measure, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, draft as of 9/
18/2017: https://www.bls.gov/iif/deep-neural-networks.pdf.
    \9\ See https://www.bls.gov/iif/autocoding.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The BLS system is already collecting data using OSHA Forms 300 and 
301, so OSHA should be able to mirror the BLS system to code the OSHA 
data fairly easily. OSHA could use the BLS source code to create a 
pilot system where the autocoding of realistic OSHA data could be 
tested and compared to manual coding of the same data. Upon successful 
testing and adoption of the BLS system, OSHA plans to consult and work 
with BLS for the long-term system maintenance to continuously update 
the neural network code and refine automation of the data.
    Once the data were coded, OSHA would be able to use the data 
similarly to how the agency currently uses coded data from the Severe 
Injury Reporting (SIR) program. The SIR Program collects data on all 
severe work-related injuries and illnesses, defined as an amputation, 
in-patient hospitalization, or loss of an eye. Under OSHA's 
recordkeeping regulation at 29 CFR 1904.39, employers must report 
certain information about these severe injuries/illnesses to OSHA 
within 24 hours of occurrence. On a monthly basis, OSHA reviews the SIR 
data and trained analysts assign OIICS codes (nature, part, event, and 
source) for each SIR narrative, thus making the data searchable/query-
able and more useful for agency programs. See Docket exhibit OSHA-2021-
006-0005 for an example of a search interface for the data that would 
be collected under this proposal. OSHA could also combine the coded 
data with other data sources (e.g., inspection data or ITA data) to 
increase the utility of the data.
    In making these preliminary findings for this rulemaking, OSHA 
notes that some autocoding information technology was available during 
the 2019 rulemaking. In fact, in the 2018 NPRM, OSHA specifically 
requested comment on other agencies or organizations that use automated 
coding systems for text data in data collections (83 FR 36494, 36500). 
Commenters on this issue urged OSHA to consult with other agencies that 
collect this type of data, including the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA), BLS, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 
and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to learn about database 
design and best practices for collecting this kind of data (84 FR 389). 
In its own comments, NIOSH noted that it had already developed 
autocoding methods for categorizing occupation and industry based on 
free text data and had successfully utilized similar free text data 
collected from workers' compensation claims (84 FR 389). NIOSH also 
generously offered to help OSHA with data analysis (84 FR 389).
    After reviewing these comments to the 2018 NPRM, OSHA determined 
that ``NIOSH's ability to analyze data collected from Forms 300 and 301 
does not reduce the burden on OSHA to collect the data. Even if NIOSH 
could make the data useful for OSHA's enforcement targeting and 
outreach efforts, which NIOSH itself has suggested would present 
analytical challenges due to the volume of the data, OSHA and employers 
would be left covering the expense of collection, not to mention 
additional expense associated with the need to process and otherwise 
manually review data from the forms--costs that would detract from 
OSHA's priorities of enforcement and compliance assistance to reduce 
workforce hazards'' (84 FR 389). Ultimately, OSHA determined that any 
benefits of electronically collecting the Form 300 and 301 data were 
outweighed by the cost of developing a system to manage that volume of 
data, particularly when making use of the data would divert resources 
away from OSHA's then-current priority of fully utilizing Form 300A and 
severe injury data for targeting and outreach (84 FR 389).
    In this proposal, OSHA has specific information from BLS regarding 
its technology. Following conversations with BLS since the 2019 
rulemaking, OSHA is confident that it would be able to utilize similar 
technology in a cost-effective manner to code the data from OSHA Forms 
300 and 301, avoiding many of the resource concerns specified in the 
2019 rulemaking. Moreover, as discussed in more detail below, OSHA has 
preliminarily determined that benefits to worker safety and health far 
outweigh the potential costs of the systems necessary to collect these 
data, make them useful for analysis, analyze them, and publish them for 
stakeholder use.
    In summary, available technology, including recent improvements in 
autocoding information technology, would enable OSHA to efficiently 
autocode the data from electronically-

[[Page 18542]]

submitted OSHA Forms 300 and 301. The agency would not need to rely 
primarily on manual review or analysis. Consequently, OSHA has 
preliminarily determined that the agency's 2019 resource-related 
concerns are no longer compelling. The agency welcomes public comment 
on the issue of automated coding of text-field data and other available 
technology that would enable OSHA to automatically code these data.
c. The Collection, Analysis, and Publishing of These Data Would Improve 
Worker Safety and Health
    The value of the new de-identification and autocoding information 
technology discussed is significant. Most importantly, the new 
autocoding technology will allow OSHA to more effectively focus its 
enforcement and compliance assistance resources on specific 
establishments experiencing safety and health problems. Access to case-
specific injury and illness data will also allow OSHA to better 
identify safety and health hazards. For example, unlike 300A data, 
which include heat illnesses in the category ``all other illnesses'' 
(Field M6), 300 and 301 data would allow OSHA to identify 
establishments with heat illnesses and allow the agency to focus its 
enforcement and compliance assistance resources on specific industries 
or types of workplaces with that specific hazard. Similarly, 300A data 
group all injuries into the single category ``injuries'' (Field M1), 
but 300 and 301 data would allow OSHA to identify establishments whose 
delivery workers experience different types of injuries, such as 
traffic violence injuries or lifting injuries.
    In addition, reliance on only 300A data limits OSHA's ability to 
analyze and address existing workplace hazards. For example, the 
collection of 300A data provides OSHA with access to general 
information about certain illnesses, such as recorded cases involving 
work-related respiratory illness. However, the collection of 300A data 
does not provide OSHA with information about specific respiratory 
illnesses, such as cases involving work-related COVID-19. On the other 
hand, the collection and analysis of case-specific data would allow 
OSHA to identify specific establishments that have experienced recorded 
cases of work-related COVID-19, which could result in OSHA enforcement 
efforts and compliance assistance at that facility.
    Similarly, together with the other protections proposed for the 
data collection, the new de-identification technology will allow OSHA 
to make the establishment-specific, case-specific, data publicly 
available in both coded and uncoded form, increasing workplace safety 
and health while providing protection against release of PII. 
Employers, employees, employee representatives, potential employees, 
customers and potential customers, workplace safety consultants, and 
members of the general public will all benefit from access to this 
information in a timely manner. For example, potential employees and 
potential customers will be able to review case-specific injury and 
illness data to make informed decisions on whether to seek employment 
at, or whether to do business with, a specific establishment. In turn, 
with heightened public awareness of injuries and illnesses at a given 
establishment, individual employers will be encouraged to increase 
their focus on enhancing workplace safety and health at their facility.
    In addition, researchers will have access to a detailed, case-
specific, establishment-specific dataset of work-related recordable 
injuries and illnesses, improving their ability to conduct 
occupational-health studies, as well as identify increasing or emerging 
hazards. For example, access to case-specific information could be 
extremely useful to individuals and public health agencies conducting 
research on the causes and prevention of work-related COVID-19.
    In summary, OSHA preliminarily finds that the benefits for worker 
safety and health of collecting, analyzing, and publishing data from 
Forms 300 and 301 outweigh the cost of the actual collection, analysis, 
and publication of those data, which have been reduced since the 2019 
rule. The agency invites comment on this preliminary determination.
d. Data Tools Will Enable Stakeholders To Efficiently Use OSHA-
Published Establishment-Specific, Case-Specific Data
    Once OSHA has removed PII and coded the case-specific injury and 
illness data submitted by employers, the agency plans to make the data 
available and able to be queried via a web-based tool. Stakeholders 
(including employers, employees, job-seekers, customers, researchers, 
workplace safety consultants, and the general public) who are 
interested in learning about occupational injuries and illnesses will 
have access to information on when injuries and illnesses occur, where 
they occur, and how they occur. Stakeholders could also use such a tool 
to analyze injury and illness data and identify patterns that are 
masked by the aggregation of injury/illness data in existing data 
sources.
    Tool functionality could include:
     The ability to compare rates with other establishments by 
industry sector, occupation, size, region, and other variables.
     The ability to track trends and emerging hazards over 
time.
     Easy searches by common variables such as OIICS category 
(e.g., event), industry sector, occupation, geography, etc.
     Provision of related data including workplace-specific 
violations, and demographic and economic data for reporting industries, 
to help contextualize the injury and illness data.
     Links to resources useful in increasing workplace safety 
such as best practices for the industry, injury reduction 
interventions, and other current health and safety information.
     Options for data visualization of the submitted data 
(e.g., data visualizations of trends, data table displays, reports with 
summary counts and statistics).
     Flexibility for accommodating the different needs of 
different types of users (for example, an employee might only want to 
access information on one establishment, while a researcher may want to 
analyze data across an entire industry sector).
     Application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow other 
web-based tools to retrieve, process, and publish publicly-accessible 
OSHA data.
    In developing a publicly-accessible tool for injury and illness 
data, OSHA would review how other federal agencies, such as the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have made their data publicly 
available via online tools that support some analyses. Examples of EPA 
tools include:
     Toxics Release Inventory Program Pollution Prevention (P2) 
Tool (https://enviro.epa.gov/facts/tri/p2.html) provides information 
that allows users to explore and compare facility and parent company 
environmental performance with respect to the management of toxic 
chemical waste, including facilities' waste management practices and 
trends.
     Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO, https://echo.epa.gov/) contains enforcement and compliance information for EPA-
regulated facilities and allows for analysis in trends of compliance 
and enforcement and creation of enforcement-related maps.
     Envirofacts (https://enviro.epa.gov/) provides access to 
several EPA databases containing information about environmental 
activities that affect air,

[[Page 18543]]

water, and land resources in the United States. The data are in a 
searchable, downloadable format.
     Enviromapper (https://enviro.epa.gov/enviro/em4ef.home) 
allows Envirofacts users to generate maps that contain the 
environmental information contained in Envirofacts.
     Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool 
(https://echo.epa.gov/trends/loading-tool/water-pollution-search/) 
allows users to determine what pollutants are being discharged into 
waterways and by which companies. The output from this tool is in the 
form of interactive charts and graphs.
     Facility Level Information on Greenhouse Gases Tool 
(FLIGHT, https://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do) provides information 
about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from large facilities in the U.S. 
and offers mapping, charting, comparing, and other analysis of 
facility-reported data.
    Thus, OSHA preliminarily finds that available tools could enable 
stakeholders to use OSHA-published data from Forms 300 and 301 to 
improve worker safety and health. OSHA welcomes public comment on the 
utility of these data for researchers, employers, and other 
stakeholders, as well as on available data tools that would enable 
these stakeholders to efficiently use OSHA-published establishment-
specific, case-specific data to improve worker safety and health.
e. The Covered Industries
    In proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2), for establishments with 100 or 
more employees, OSHA is seeking to balance the utility of the 
information collection for enforcement, outreach, and research, on the 
one hand, and the burden on employers to provide the information to 
OSHA, on the other hand. The 2016 final rule, which was subsequently 
rescinded, required submission of information from the OSHA Form 300, 
301, and 300A from all establishments with 250 or more employees in 
industries routinely required to keep part 1904 injury and illness 
records. In the 2016 final rule, OSHA estimated that establishments 
with 250 or more employees covered by that section of the submission 
requirement would report 713,397 injury and illness cases per year.
    For this rulemaking, to identify the appropriate balance of utility 
versus burden, OSHA analyzed five years of injury and illness summary 
data collected through OSHA's Injury Tracking Application (ITA). OSHA 
examined combinations of establishment size and industry hazardousness 
that, like the 2016 final rule, would provide the agency with 
information on roughly 750,000 cases of injuries and illnesses per 
year. Based on this analysis, OSHA is proposing a reporting requirement 
for establishments with 100 or more employees in 4-digit NAICS (2017) 
industries that:
    1. Had a 3-year-average rate of total recordable cases (Total Case 
Rate, or TCR) in the BLS SOII for 2017, 2018, and 2019, of at least 3.5 
cases per 100 full-time-equivalent employees, and
    2. are included in proposed appendix A to subpart E. (All of the 
industries in proposed appendix B are also in appendix A.)
    OSHA proposes to list the designated industries required to submit 
data from all three recordkeeping forms under proposed Sec.  
1904.41(a)(2) in proposed appendix B to subpart E.
    OSHA is proposing one exception to these criteria, for the United 
States Postal Service (USPS), which is the only employer in NAICS 4911 
Postal Service. BLS does not include USPS in the SOII. However, under 
the Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 105-241), OSHA 
treats the USPS as a private sector employer for purposes of 
occupational safety and health, and establishments in NAICS 4911 (i.e., 
USPS establishments) with 20 or more employees are currently required 
to electronically submit Form 300A information to OSHA. Using the 2017, 
2018, and 2019 data submitted by USPS, OSHA calculated a TCR of 7.5 for 
NAICS 4911. Because this TCR is greater than the proposed 3.5 criterion 
for designated industries in proposed appendix B, OSHA is including 
NAICS 4911 in proposed appendix B to subpart E. OSHA notes that NAICS 
4911 is also included in both current and proposed appendix A to 
subpart E.
    In the 2016 final rule that revised Sec.  1904.41, OSHA used the 
rate of cases with days away from work, job restriction, or transfer 
(DART) from the BLS SOII to determine the industries included in 
appendix A to subpart E of part 1904. However, proposed appendix B to 
subpart E is based on the TCR, which includes both cases resulting in 
days away from work, job restriction, or transfer, as well as other 
recordable cases such as those resulting in medical treatment beyond 
first aid. OSHA believes that TCR is the appropriate rate to use for 
determining the list of industries in proposed appendix B to subpart E 
because covered establishments will be required to electronically 
submit information to OSHA on all of their recordable cases, not just 
cases that resulted in days away from work, job restriction, or 
transfer. In 2020, OSHA received submissions of 2019 Form 300A data 
from 46,911 establishments that had 100 or more employees and were in 
one of the industries listed in proposed appendix B to subpart E, 
accounting for 680,930 total recordable cases and a TCR of 3.6. OSHA 
requests comment on whether TCR is the appropriate method for 
determining the list of industries in proposed appendix B to subpart E.
    Additionally, OSHA anticipates that, by the time that the 
department expects to issue the final rule in this rulemaking, more 
current industry-level injury and illness data from BLS, as well as 
more establishment-specific injury and illness information from the 
ITA, will be available. When developing the final rule, OSHA may rely 
on the most current data available, as appropriate, for determining the 
list of industries in appendix B to subpart E. OSHA seeks comment from 
the public on whether the agency should use the most current data when 
developing the final rule.
    The designated industries, which would be published as appendix B 
to subpart E of part 1904, are proposed to be as follows:

                           Proposed Appendix B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       2017 NAICS code                     2017 NAICS title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1111........................  Oilseed and grain farming.
1112........................  Vegetable and melon farming.
1113........................  Fruit and tree nut farming.
1114........................  Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture
                               production.
1119........................  Other crop farming.
1121........................  Cattle ranching and farming.
1122........................  Hog and pig farming.

[[Page 18544]]

 
1123........................  Poultry and egg production.
1129........................  Other animal production.
1141........................  Fishing.
1151........................  Support activities for crop production.
1152........................  Support activities for animal production.
1153........................  Support activities for forestry.
2213........................  Water, sewage and other systems.
2381........................  Foundation, structure, and building
                               exterior contractors.
3111........................  Animal food manufacturing.
3113........................  Sugar and confectionery product
                               manufacturing.
3114........................  Fruit and vegetable preserving and
                               specialty food manufacturing.
3115........................  Dairy product manufacturing.
3116........................  Animal slaughtering and processing.
3117........................  Seafood product preparation and packaging.
3118........................  Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing.
3119........................  Other food manufacturing.
3121........................  Beverage manufacturing.
3161........................  Leather and hide tanning and finishing.
3162........................  Footwear manufacturing.
3211........................  Sawmills and wood preservation.
3212........................  Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood
                               product manufacturing.
3219........................  Other wood product manufacturing.
3261........................  Plastics product manufacturing.
3262........................  Rubber product manufacturing.
3271........................  Clay product and refractory manufacturing.
3272........................  Glass and glass product manufacturing.
3273........................  Cement and concrete product manufacturing.
3279........................  Other nonmetallic mineral product
                               manufacturing.
3312........................  Steel product manufacturing from purchased
                               steel.
3314........................  Nonferrous metal production and
                               processing.
3315........................  Foundries.
3321........................  Forging and stamping.
3323........................  Architectural and structural metals
                               manufacturing.
3324........................  Boiler, tank, and shipping container
                               manufacturing.
3325........................  Hardware manufacturing.
3326........................  Spring and wire product manufacturing.
3327........................  Machine shops; turned product; and screw,
                               nut, and bolt manufacturing.
3328........................  Coating, engraving, heat treating, and
                               allied activities.
3331........................  Agriculture, construction, and mining
                               machinery manufacturing.
3335........................  Metalworking machinery manufacturing.
3361........................  Motor vehicle manufacturing.
3362........................  Motor vehicle body and trailer
                               manufacturing.
3363........................  Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.
3366........................  Ship and boat building.
3371........................  Household and institutional furniture and
                               kitchen cabinet manufacturing.
3372........................  Office furniture manufacturing.
4231........................  Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and
                               supplies merchant wholesalers.
4233........................  Lumber and other construction materials
                               merchant wholesalers.
4235........................  Metal and mineral merchant wholesalers.
4244........................  Grocery and related product merchant
                               wholesalers.
4248........................  Beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic
                               beverage merchant wholesalers.
4413........................  Automotive parts, accessories, and tire
                               stores.
4422........................  Home furnishings stores.
4441........................  Building material and supplies dealers.
4442........................  Lawn and garden equipment and supplies
                               stores.
4451........................  Grocery stores.
4522........................  Department stores.
4523........................  General merchandise stores, including
                               warehouse clubs and supercenters.
4533........................  Used merchandise stores.
4543........................  Direct selling establishments.
4811........................  Scheduled air transportation.
4841........................  General freight trucking.
4842........................  Specialized freight trucking.
4851........................  Urban transit systems.
4852........................  Interurban and rural bus transportation.
4854........................  School and employee bus transportation.
4859........................  Other transit and ground passenger
                               transportation.
4871........................  Scenic and sightseeing transportation,
                               land.
4881........................  Support activities for air transportation.
4883........................  Support activities for water
                               transportation.
4911........................  Postal Service.

[[Page 18545]]

 
4921........................  Couriers and express delivery services.
4931........................  Warehousing and storage.
5322........................  Consumer goods rental.
5621........................  Waste collection.
5622........................  Waste treatment and disposal.
6219........................  Other ambulatory health care services.
6221........................  General medical and surgical hospitals.
6222........................  Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals.
6223........................  Specialty hospitals.
6231........................  Nursing care facilities.
6232........................  Residential intellectual and developmental
                               disability, mental health, and substance
                               abuse facilities.
6233........................  Continuing care retirement communities and
                               assisted living facilities for the
                               elderly.
6239........................  Other residential care facilities.
6243........................  Vocational rehabilitation services.
7111........................  Performing arts companies.
7112........................  Spectator sports.
7131........................  Amusement parks and arcades.
7211........................  Traveler accommodation.
7212........................  RV parks and recreational camps.
7223........................  Special food services.
6239........................  Other residential care facilities.
6243........................  Vocational rehabilitation services.
7111........................  Performing arts companies.
7112........................  Spectator sports.
7131........................  Amusement parks and arcades.
7211........................  Traveler accommodation.
7212........................  RV parks and recreational camps.
7223........................  Special food services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA welcomes public comment on all aspects of proposed appendix B, 
including the specific issues noted above.
3. Section 1904.41(b)(1)(i) and (ii)
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1) would provide employers with further 
clarity on which employers and establishments need to submit data under 
proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) and (2) and how the requirements of those 
provisions interact with each other. These proposed provisions, like 
many of the provisions within part 1904 are written in question-and-
answer format to help employers easily identify the information they 
seek.
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)(i) focuses on the issue of who must 
submit their information to OSHA. Specifically, it would reiterate the 
question posed in current Sec.  1904.41(b) (which asks whether every 
employer has to routinely make an annual electronic submission of 
information from part 1904 injury and illness recordkeeping forms to 
OSHA), but update the answer to be consistent with proposed Sec.  
1904.41(a)(1) and (2).
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)(ii) would similarly clarify that an 
establishment that has 100 or more employees, and is in an industry 
included in both appendix A and appendix B, need only make one 
submission of the OSHA Form 300A in order to fulfill the requirements 
of both proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) and (2). Proposed appendix B is a 
subset of appendix A; i.e., all industries included in proposed 
appendix B are also included in proposed appendix A, but there are some 
industries included in proposed appendix A that are not included in 
proposed appendix B.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The differences between current appendix A and proposed 
appendix A are (1) current appendix A has 2012 NAICS industry group 
4521 (Department Stores), whereas proposed appendix A has 2017 NAICS 
industry groups 4522 (Department Stores) and 4523 (General 
Merchandise Stores, including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters); (2) 
current appendix A has 2012 NAICS industry group 4529 (Other General 
Merchandise Stores), whereas in proposed appendix A, that industry 
group is included in 2017 NAICS industry group 4523 (General 
Merchandise Stores, including Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters); (3) 
proposed appendix A does not include NAICS 7213, Rooming and 
Boarding Houses, which is exempt from the requirement to routinely 
keep injury and illness records and was included in current appendix 
A in error.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OSHA welcomes public comment on proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)(i) and 
(ii), including whether these proposed provisions appropriately clarify 
the proposed requirements for employers.
4. Section 1904.41(b)(9)
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(9) would pose and answer a question 
regarding which information would be required to be submitted under 
proposed Sec.  1904.41(a). Specifically, proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(9) 
would ask the following question: If I have to submit information under 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section, do I have to submit all of the 
information from the recordkeeping forms?
    The proposed answer would clarify that OSHA will not require 
employers to submit the following case-specific information from the 
OSHA Form 300 and Form 301:
     Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 
300): Employee name (column B).
     Injury and Illness Incident Report (OSHA Form 301): 
Employee name (field 1), employee address (field 2), name of physician 
or other health care professional (field 6), facility name and address 
if treatment was given away from the worksite (field 7).
    Collecting data from these fields would not add to OSHA's ability 
to identify establishments with specific hazards or elevated injury and 
illness rates. Therefore, OSHA proposes to exclude these fields from 
the submittal requirements to minimize any potential release or 
unauthorized access to any PII contained in the fields. Because the 
data collection will not collect the information from these fields, 
there will be no risk of public disclosure of the information from 
these fields through the data collection.

[[Page 18546]]

    OSHA welcomes public comment on Sec.  1904.41(b)(9), including 
whether the specified fields should be excluded from data that would be 
collected, and whether other data should be similarly excluded to 
protect employee privacy or for other reasons. Any comments suggesting 
exclusion of other fields or data from the proposed submission 
requirements should also address whether the exclusion of that 
particular field or data from collection would hinder OSHA's ability to 
use the collection to protect employee safety and health.
5. Section 1904.41(b)(10)
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(10) would address an issue related to how 
establishments identify themselves in their electronic recordkeeping 
submissions. As noted above, OSHA's recordkeeping regulation requires 
employers to maintain and report their injury and illness data at the 
establishment level. An establishment is defined as a single physical 
location where business is conducted or where services or industrial 
operations are performed (see 29 CFR 1904.46). Part 1904 injury and 
illness records must be specific for each individual establishment.
    Under the current requirements at 29 CFR 1904.41, a firm with more 
than one establishment must submit establishment-specific 300A data for 
each establishment that meets the size and industry reporting criteria. 
OSHA's current data submission portal, the Injury Tracking Application 
(ITA), contains two text fields used to identify an establishment, 
Company Name and Establishment Name. The Establishment Name field is a 
mandatory field; the user must make an entry in that field. In 
addition, a user submitting information for more than one establishment 
must provide a unique Establishment Name for each establishment. In 
contrast, the Company Name field is an optional field; the user is not 
required to make an entry in that field.
    OSHA's review of five years of data electronically submitted under 
part 1904.41 shows that many large firms with multiple establishments 
use codes for the Establishment Name field in their submission. A 
subset of these firms use codes for the Establishment Name field and do 
not provide a company name in the Company Name field. For example, in 
the 2020 submissions of 2019 Form 300A data, users submitted data for 
more than 18,000 establishments with a code in the Establishment Name 
field and no information in the Company Name field.
    Unfortunately, the data are considerably less useful and more 
difficult to work with when establishments have a code in the 
Establishment Name field and no information in the Company Name field. 
For example, it is not possible for a data user to search for data from 
that company. In addition, OSHA is unable to determine whether or not a 
particular establishment in that company met the reporting 
requirements. Further, since OSHA now makes these data publicly 
available, the use of codes and the lack of information in the Company 
Name field may hamper stakeholders' and researchers' ability to use the 
information.
    To date, OSHA has made an effort to identify and assign company 
names to these establishments. For example, sometimes OSHA is able to 
use the EIN or the user's email address to identify the company 
associated with the establishment. However, OSHA is not always able to 
identify the company. In addition, the effort requires substantial 
review for verification.
    To address this problem, OSHA proposes to require employers who use 
codes for the Establishment Name to include a legal name in the Company 
Name field. This requirement would be spelled out in question-and-
answer format in proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(10). The proposed provision 
would provide: My company uses numbers or codes to identify our 
establishments. May I use numbers or codes as the establishment name in 
my submission? Yes, you may use numbers or codes as the establishment 
name. However, the submission must include the legal company name, 
either as part of the establishment name or separately as the company 
name.
    OSHA welcomes public comment on the proposed requirement to submit 
the company name, including any comments on the utility of such a 
requirement and how the company name should be included in an 
establishment's submission.
6. Section 1904.41(c) Reporting Dates
    Proposed Sec.  1904.41(c) would simplify the regulatory language in 
current Sec.  1904.41(c)(1)-(2) concerning the dates by which 
establishments must make their annual submissions. Current Sec.  
1904.41(c)(1) included information for establishments on what to submit 
to OSHA during the phase-in period of the 2016 final rule and the 
deadline for submission. That information is no longer relevant and, 
thus, OSHA proposes to remove it to streamline the section.
    The substantive information already contained in current Sec.  
1904.41(c)(1) would then be consolidated into proposed Sec.  
1904.41(c). Like current Sec.  1904.41(c)(1), proposed Sec.  1904.41(c) 
would require all covered establishments to make their electronic 
submissions by March 2 of the year after the calendar year covered by 
the form(s). Proposed Sec.  1904.41(c) would also provide an updated 
example of that requirement, i.e., it explains that the forms covering 
calendar year 2021 would be due by March 2, 2022.
    OSHA welcomes public comment on these proposed revisions to Sec.  
1904.41(c).

B. Questions

    OSHA welcomes comments and data from the public regarding any 
aspect of the proposed amendments to Sec.  1904.41 Electronic 
Submission of Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Injury and 
Illness Records to OSHA. OSHA is particularly interested in any 
comments on these specific questions:
    1. Is Total Case Rate (TCR) the most appropriate incidence rate to 
use for proposed appendix B to subpart E, or would the Days Away 
Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate be more appropriate?
    2. Is 100 or more employees the appropriate size criterion for the 
proposed requirement to electronically submit data from the OSHA Form 
300, 301, and 300A? Would a different size criterion be more 
appropriate?
    3. Is it appropriate for OSHA to remove the requirement for 
establishments with 250 or more employees, in industries not included 
in appendix A, to submit the information from their OSHA Form 300A?
    4. Are there electronic interface features that would help users 
electronically submit part 1904 data, particularly for case data from 
the OSHA Form 300 and Form 301 and for establishments that submit using 
batch files? For example, would it be helpful for OSHA to provide a 
forms package or software application that exports the required files 
into a submission-ready format?
    5. What features could OSHA provide to help establishments 
determine which submission requirements apply to their establishment?
    6. What additional guidance could OSHA add to the instructions for 
electronic submission to remind employers not to include information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly in the information they 
submit from the text-based fields on the OSHA Form 300 or Form 301?
    7. What other agencies and organizations use automated de-

[[Page 18547]]

identification systems to remove information that reasonably identifies 
individuals directly from text data before making the data available to 
the general public? What levels of sensitivity for the automated system 
for the identification and removal of information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly from text data do these agencies use?
    8. What other open-source and/or proprietary software is available 
to remove information that reasonably identifies individuals directly 
from text data?
    9. What methods or systems exist to identify and remove information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly from text data before 
the data are submitted?
    10. What criteria should OSHA use to determine whether the 
sensitivity of automated systems to identify and remove information 
that reasonably identifies individuals directly is sufficient for OSHA 
to make the data available to the general public?
    11. What processes could OSHA establish to remove inadvertently-
published information that reasonably identifies individuals directly 
as soon as OSHA became aware of the information that reasonably 
identifies individuals directly?
    12. OSHA is proposing not to collect employee names under proposed 
Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) and (b)(9), consistent with worker privacy concerns 
expressed in public comments during previous rulemakings. However, BLS 
uses the ``employee name'' field on the Form 300 and Form 301 in their 
data collection for the SOII. Beginning in 2021, a data-sharing feature 
has allowed some establishments that are required to submit Form 300A 
information to both OSHA and BLS, under the current regulation, to use 
their data submission to the OSHA ITA in their submission to the BLS 
SOII. BLS anticipates an inability to use this data-sharing feature for 
establishments required to submit under proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2), 
unless OSHA requires these establishments to submit the ``employee 
name'' field on the Form 300 and 301. Without the data-sharing feature, 
establishments that submit data to OSHA under proposed Sec.  
1904.41(a)(2), and that also submit data to the BLS SOII, would not be 
able to use their OSHA data submission of case-specific data to prefill 
their BLS SOII submission. What would be the advantages and 
disadvantages, in terms of employer burden and worker privacy concerns 
or otherwise, of requiring all establishments subject to proposed Sec.  
1904.41(a)(2) to submit employee names, to support this data-sharing 
feature for Form 300 and 301 submissions? (Please note that OSHA would 
not intend to publish employee names.)
    13. NAICS codes are reviewed and revised every five years to keep 
the classification system current with changes in economic activities. 
The 2022 NAICS became effective on January 1, 2022. Going forward, OSHA 
intends to use the 2022 NAICS in the ITA for establishments that are 
newly creating accounts. However, for establishments that already have 
accounts in the ITA, the version of NAICS used is the 2012 NAICS. BLS 
anticipates that establishments that already have accounts in the ITA, 
are also subject to the SOII, and have 2022 NAICS codes that are 
different from their 2012 NAICS codes, would be unable to use the data-
sharing feature (also discussed in question 13) to prefill their BLS 
SOII submission with data already submitted through the OSHA ITA, 
unless these establishments updated their accounts to revise their 
industry classification from the 2012 NAICS to the 2022 NAICS. What are 
the advantages and disadvantages of requiring establishments that 
already have accounts in the ITA to update their accounts to the 2022 
NAICS? How much time would an establishment require to determine 
whether their 2022 NAICS is different from their 2012 NAICS? How much 
time would an establishment require to edit their NAICS code in the ITA 
to reflect any changes?
    14. In addition to the automated methods for coding text-based data 
discussed above, what additional automated methods exist to code text-
based data?
    15. What are some ways that employers could use the collected data 
to improve the safety and health of their workplaces?
    16. What are some ways that employees could use the collected data 
to improve the safety and health of their workplaces?
    17. What are some ways that federal and state agencies could use 
the collected data to improve workplace safety and health?
    18. What are some ways that researchers could use the collected 
data to improve workplace safety and health?
    19. What are some ways that workplace safety consultants could use 
the collected data to improve workplace safety and health?
    20. What are some ways that members of the public and other 
stakeholders, such as job-seekers, could use the collected data to 
improve workplace safety and health?
    21. Are there potential negative consequences to the collection of 
this data that OSHA has not considered here?
    22. The proposed regulatory text is structured as follows: Sec.  
1904.41(a)(1) Annual electronic submission of information from OSHA 
Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by 
establishments with 20 or more employees in designated industries; 
Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) Annual electronic submission of information from 
OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 301 
Injury and Illness Incident Report, and OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-
Related Injuries and Illnesses by establishments with 100 or more 
employees in designated industries. This is the structure used by the 
2016 and 2019 rulemakings. An alternative structure would be as 
follows: Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) Annual electronic submission of 
information from OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by establishments with 20 or more employees in designated 
industries; Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) Annual electronic submission of 
information from OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses and OSHA Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report by 
establishments with 100 or more employees in designated industries. 
Which structure would result in better understanding of the 
requirements by employers?

IV. Preliminary Economic Analysis and Regulatory Flexibility 
Certification

A. Introduction

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of the intended regulation and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits 
(including potential economic, environmental, and public health and 
safety effects; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 
13563 emphasized the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This rule is not an economically significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and has been reviewed by the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of 
Management and Budget, as required by executive order.
    OSHA estimates that this rule will have economic costs of $4.3 
million per year, including $3.9 million per year to the private 
sector, with average costs of $81 per year for affected establishments

[[Page 18548]]

with 100 or more employees, annualized over 10 years with a discount 
rate of seven percent. The agency believes that the annual benefits, 
while unquantified, significantly exceed the annual costs.
    The proposed rule is not an economically significant regulatory 
action under Executive Order 12866 or the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
(UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1532(a)), and it is not a ``major rule'' under the 
Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The agency estimates 
that the rulemaking imposes far less than $100 million in annual 
economic costs. In addition, it does not meet any of the other criteria 
specified by UMRA or the Congressional Review Act for an economically 
significant regulatory action or major rule. This Preliminary Economic 
Analysis (PEA) addresses the costs, benefits, and economic impacts of 
the proposed rule.
    OSHA is proposing to amend its recordkeeping regulations to revise 
the requirements for the electronic submission of information from part 
1904 injury and illness recordkeeping forms (Sec.  1904.41--Electronic 
submission of injury and illness records to OSHA).
    First, OSHA will require all establishments that have 20 or more 
employees and are in certain designated industries to electronically 
submit information from the OSHA Form 300A Annual Summary to OSHA or 
OSHA's designee once a year (proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) Annual 
electronic submission of information from OSHA Form 300A Summary of 
Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by establishments with 20 or more 
employees in designated industries).
    The current requirement (Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) Annual electronic 
submission of OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by establishments with 20 or more employees but fewer than 
250 employees in designated industries.) applies only to establishments 
with fewer than 250 employees in industries designated by appendix A to 
subpart E of part 1904. However, establishments with 250 or more 
employees in these industries are also currently required to submit 
this information under current Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) Annual electronic 
submission of OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by establishments with 250 or more employees. Note that OSHA 
is proposing to revise appendix A to update the list of industries from 
the 2012 to the 2017 NAICS.
    Second, OSHA will require all establishments that have 100 or more 
employees and are in certain designated industries to electronically 
submit information from the OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300A to OSHA or 
OSHA's designee (proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) Annual electronic 
submission of information from OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related 
Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident 
Report, and OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses by establishments with 100 or more employees in designated 
industries). The industries are designated by proposed appendix B to 
subpart E of part 1904.
    As discussed above, the current Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) Annual 
electronic submission of OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related 
Injuries and Illnesses by establishments with 250 or more employees 
requires submission of the Form 300A from all establishments that have 
250 or more employees and that are in industries routinely required to 
keep part 1904 records. Under the proposed revisions, establishments 
that have 250 or more employees would only have to routinely make 
electronic submissions of part 1904 information if they are in an 
industry in appendix A to subpart E (proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(1)) or 
in appendix B to subpart E (proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2)), which is a 
subset of appendix A. The proposed rule will remove the requirement for 
routine electronic submission of Form 300A information from 
establishments with 250 or more employees in all other industries 
(i.e., industries that are not included in appendix A or proposed 
appendix B).
    Under proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(9), OSHA will not collect the 
following case-specific information from the Form 300 and Form 301 
submitted by establishments with 100 or more employees in designated 
industries under proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2):
    (i) Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300): 
Employee name (column B).
    (ii) Injury and Illness Incident Report (OSHA Form 301): Employee 
name (field 1), employee address (field 2), name of physician or other 
health care professional (field 6), facility name and address if 
treatment was given away from the worksite (field 7).
    The OSHA Form 300A does not have any case-specific information.
    In addition, under proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(10), OSHA will require 
establishments that are required to electronically report information 
from their injury and illness records to OSHA under part 1904, to 
include their company name as part of the submission.
    Finally, OSHA proposes language in proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)(i) 
and (ii) to further clarify the requirements spelled out in proposed 
Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) and (2) and current Sec.  1904.41(a)(3), and, in 
proposed Sec.  1904.41(c), OSHA proposes updates to the reporting 
deadlines.

B. Costs

1. Section 1904.41(a)(1) Annual Electronic Submission of Information 
From OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by 
Establishments With 20 or More Employees in Designated Industries
    Currently, two groups of establishments are required to submit 
information from the Form 300A annual summary, under two separate 
requirements: Sec.  1904.41(a)(1) For all establishments with 250 or 
more employees in all industries where establishments must routinely 
keep part 1904 injury and illness records, and Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) for 
establishments with 20 or more employees in the industries designated 
in appendix A to subpart E.
    In contrast, under the proposed revisions, only establishments with 
20 or more employees in the industries designated in appendix A to 
subpart E would be required to submit information from the Form 300A 
annual summary. (As noted above, although proposed Sec.  1904.41(a)(2) 
also requires employers in the industries designated in appendix B to 
submit information from their Form 300A annual summary, those 
industries are a subset of the industries listed in appendix A, so no 
new submission would be required (see proposed Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)). 
Thus, the net effect of this section is to reduce the number of 
establishments that are required to submit information from the Form 
300A annual summary. This section calculates the cost savings resulting 
from the reduction in number of establishments that are required to 
submit information from the Form 300A annual summary.
    For this part of the proposed rule, OSHA obtained the estimated 
cost of electronic hour (in dollars) of the person expected to perform 
the task of electronic submission by multiplying the estimated total 
compensation per hour (in dollars) of the person expected to perform 
the task of electronic submission by the time required for the 
electronic data submission. OSHA estimated occupation-specific wage 
rates from BLS 2020 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data 
(BLS, May 2020), reporting a mean hourly wage of $37.55 for 
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (19-5011 in the 2018 
Standard Occupational

[[Page 18549]]

Classification System (SOC); formerly 29-9011 in the 2010 SOC 
System).\11\ Note that this is the same occupational classification 
that OSHA used in the Final Economic Analysis (FEA) in the 2016 final 
rule, based on public comments, as well as in the 2018 notice of 
proposed rulemaking and 2019 final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ OMB issued revised SOC codes in 2017, changing SOC 29-9011 
to SOC 19-5011. The 2010 SOC to the 2018 SOC crosswalk can be 
downloaded here (accessed July 2021): https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/crosswalks_used_by_agencies.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Next, OSHA used June 2021 data from the BLS National Compensation 
Survey, reporting a mean fringe benefit factor of 1.45 for civilian 
workers in general.\12\ OSHA then multiplied the mean hourly wage 
($37.55) by the mean fringe benefit factor (1.45) to obtain an 
estimated total compensation (wages and benefits) for Occupational 
Health and Safety Specialists of $54.58 per hour ([$37.55 per hour] x 
1.45). OSHA next applied a 17% overhead rate to the base wage ([$37.55 
per hour] x [0.17]), totaling $6.38.\13\ The $6.38 was added to the 
total compensation ($54.58) yielding a fully loaded wage rate of $60.96 
[$54.58 + $6.38].\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Fringe benefit factor calculated as [1/(1-0.312)], where 
0.312 is the percent of the average total benefits of civilian 
workers in all industries, as reported on Table 2 of the BLS's ECEC 
report, June 2021: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t02.htm.
    \13\ 17 percent is OSHA's standard estimate for the overhead 
cost incurred by the average employer.
    \14\ See docket exhibit OSHA-2021-006-0002 for a spreadsheet 
with the full calculations.

  Table X.Y--Loaded Wage Used in Analysis, Including Overhead Cost \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Occupational     Loaded wage
         Occupation description                code            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Occupational Health and Safety               \2\ 19-5011          $60.96
 Specialists............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Source: OSHA, based on BLS (May 2020) and BLS (June 17, 2021).
\2\ OMB issued revised SOC codes in 2017, changing SOC 29-9011 to SOC 19-
  5011. The 2010 SOC to the 2018 SOC crosswalk can be downloaded here
  (accessed July 2021): https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/crosswalks_used_by_agencies.htm.

    For time required for the data submission, OSHA used the time 
estimate of 10 minutes per establishment for the OSHA Form 300A from 
the current information collection for Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (29 CFR part 1904) (OMB Control 
Number 1218-0176). OSHA then multiplied this time by the total 
compensation of $60.96 per hour to obtain an estimated submission cost 
per establishment of $10.16 [($60.96/hour) x (1 hour/60 minutes) x (10 
minutes)].
    Then OSHA multiplied this submission cost per establishment by the 
estimated number of establishments that would no longer be required to 
submit data, to obtain the total estimated cost savings of this part of 
the proposed rule. In the 2020 data collection, there were 2,665 
establishments with 250 or more employees, in an industry not in 
appendix A, which submitted information from the 2019 OSHA Form 300A to 
OSHA.
    Thus, OSHA estimates the total annual cost savings of this part of 
the proposed rule as $27,077 [(2,665 establishments no longer required 
to electronically submit Form 300A information) x ($10.16 per 
establishment for electronic submission of Form 300A information per 
year)].
    OSHA welcomes public comment on this estimate.
2. Section 1904.41(a)(2)--Annual Electronic Submission of Information 
From OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA 
Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report, and OSHA Form 300A Summary 
of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by Establishments With 100 or 
More Employees in Designated Industries
    This proposed section would require establishments that have 100 or 
more employees and that are in the industries included in proposed 
appendix B to submit the information from the OSHA Form 300 Log, OSHA 
Form 301 incident report, and OSHA Form 300A annual summary. Note that 
all of the establishments affected by this requirement are already 
currently required to submit the information from their OSHA Form 300A. 
Consequently, this section calculates only the additional costs for 
these establishments of submitting the information from the OSHA Form 
300 and 301.
    Based in part on OSHA's previous experience, the agency estimates 
that establishments will first need to take 10 minutes, on average, to 
familiarize themselves with changes to the existing recordkeeping 
requirements within this proposed rule.\15\ Thus, the agency calculates 
a one-time cost for familiarization of $497,033 [(48,919 
establishments) times (ten minutes/establishment) times (1 hour/60 
minutes) times ($60.96/hour)]. Annualizing this rate over 10 years with 
a seven percent discount rate produces an annual cost of $70,782 to the 
private sector.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ For example, OSHA added an estimate of 10 minutes of 
familiarization time to its 2016 Recordkeeping regulation (81 FR 
29680), in response to public comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the 2020 data collection of 2019 OSHA Form 300A data, 
establishments with 100 or more employees, in appendix B industries, 
reported 718,316 cases to OSHA. For time required for data submission 
of the OSHA Form 300 and 301, OSHA estimates 10 minutes per case, based 
on the current Information Collection Request (ICR). Note that this may 
overestimate costs, because while OSHA's estimates reflect manual entry 
of the data for each case, in the agency's experience, roughly half of 
the covered establishments submit data to the ITA by uploading a batch 
file. In general, OSHA expects companies with many establishments/many 
cases to have computer systems that can export their part 1904 injury 
and illness recordkeeping data into an easily-uploaded file format. 
OSHA seeks comment on this point.
    OSHA estimates that half of the establishments submitting reports 
(24,460) will submit 359,193 cases total (half of the overall total 
number of 718,386 cases) via batch file--one batch file per 
establishment.\16\ This yields an estimated cost of $248,517 [(24,460 
establishments) times (10 minutes/establishment) times (1 hour/60 
minutes) times ($60.96/hour)]. The average cost per establishment would 
be $10.16 per establishment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Review of the 2019 Form 300A data submitted through the ITA 
in 2020 shows that 44% of establishments with 100 or more employees 
in proposed appendix B submitted their data by uploading a batch 
file. OSHA expects that this percentage would increase to 50% or 
more for two reasons. First, the increase in the amount of data 
required from these establishments would make the batch-file upload 
a more efficient method of submission for more establishments. 
Second, OSHA plans to make it easier for users to submit a batch 
file by providing a set of forms that allow users to create the 
export file for batch-file submission.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 18550]]

    OSHA estimates that the other half of the establishments (24,460) 
will manually submit each case individually. The mean number of cases 
per establishment is 14.7 (718,386 total cases divided by 48,919 total 
establishments). For manual submission, OSHA estimates a time of 10 
minutes per case, or 147 minutes per establishment for the mean number 
of cases. This produces a total cost for manual submission of 
$3,649,520 [(48,919 establishments) times (10 minutes/case) times (14.7 
cases) times (1 hour/60 minutes) times ($60.96/hour)], or $149 per 
establishment [(14.7 cases) times (1 hour/60 minutes) times ($60.96/
hour)].
    Summing the estimated batch-file ($248,517) and manual submission 
($3,649,520) costs results in an estimated total cost of $3,898,037 to 
submit the 718,316 records. Combined with the annualized cost of 
$70,782 per year for familiarization estimated above (at seven 
percent), the estimated total annual private-sector cost of this part 
of the proposed rule is $3,968,819. To obtain the estimated average 
cost of submission per establishment of $81.13, OSHA divided the total 
estimated cost of submission ($3,968,819) by the estimated number of 
establishments that would be required to submit data (48,919 
establishments).
    For reference, as explained above, 48,919 establishments with 100 
or more employees, in proposed appendix B, submitted CY 2019 Form 300A 
information about 718,386 cases to OSHA in 2020. The mean number of 
cases per establishment is 14.7, and the median number of cases per 
establishment is seven. However, some establishments will have no 
recordable injuries in a given year, and their time burden will be zero 
minutes. In contrast, establishments with many recordable injuries and 
illnesses could have a time burden of multiple hours if they enter the 
data manually. OSHA preliminarily believes that the establishments that 
submit a single batch file are more likely to be among the 
establishments with many cases, while the establishments that submit 
cases manually are more likely to be among the establishments with only 
a few cases. Thus, OSHA's estimate of half of establishments submitting 
half of cases manually may result in an overestimate of the total and 
per-establishment costs of this part of the proposed rule.
    OSHA welcomes public comment on these estimates, including on time 
necessary to prepare and submit a batch file and on establishments' 
considerations for deciding to submit via batch file versus manual 
submission.
3. Section 1904.41(b)(10)
    This proposed section would require establishments to provide their 
company name as part of their submission, either included in the 
establishment name or separately as the company. For this part of the 
proposed rule, based on submissions of information from the 2019 Form 
300A to the ITA in 2020, OSHA estimates that 18,182 establishments do 
not include the company name. The time necessary to include the company 
name is included in the PEA estimate of 10 minutes per submission per 
establishment. OSHA has also preliminarily determined that this 
requirement will result in a small, unquantified benefit/cost-savings 
for the government, due to no longer needing to spend time trying to 
assign company names to establishments with coded names.
    OSHA welcomes public comment on these preliminary 
determinations.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ OSHA does not anticipate that the proposed revisions to 
Sec.  1904.41(b)(1)(i), (b)(1)(ii), or (c) would have any 
substantial costs associated with them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Budget Costs to the Government for the Creation of the Reporting 
System, Helpdesk Assistance, and Administration of the Electronic 
Submission Program
    In this preliminary economic analysis, OSHA is including an 
estimate of the costs of the proposed new requirement, because these 
costs represent a significant fraction of the total costs of the new 
requirement. OSHA received estimates for the costs from the US 
Department of Labor Office of the Chief Information Officer (DOL OCIO).
    Based on the DOL OCIO estimates shown in the table below, OSHA is 
estimating that modification of the reporting system hardware and 
software infrastructure to accept submissions of Form 300 and 301 data 
will have an initial one-time cost of $1.2 million.

   Table V-1--Estimates of the Cost of Software Design and Development
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Lower cost      Upper cost
                                               range           range
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Development.............................     $516,417.00     $866,250.00
Cyber/ATO...............................      150,000.00      200,000.00
Cloud...................................       20,000.00       20,000.00
Migration...............................      100,000.00      150,000.00
                                         -------------------------------
  Total.................................      786,417.00    1,236,250.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Annualized over 10 years at a seven percent discount rate, $1.2 
million is $170,853 per year, or $140,677 annualized over 10 years at 
three percent. OSHA also estimates $201,128 as the annual cost of 
additional transactions ($0.28 per case times 718,316 cases). Finally, 
OSHA estimates that annual help desk support costs will increase by 
$25,000. This estimate is based on the annual help desk support costs 
under the current provisions.
5. Total Costs of the Rule
    As shown in the table below, the total costs of the proposed rule 
would be an estimated $4.3 million per year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See docket exhibit OSHA-2021-006-0002 for the full 
calculations.

            Table V-2--Total Costs of the Proposed Rule \18\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          One-time costs
              Cost element                 Annual costs         \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual electronic submission of OSHA           ($27,077)
 Form 300A annual summary by
 establishments with 20 or more
 employees in designated industries.....
Annual electronic submission of OSHA           3,968,819
 Form 300 Log and OSHA Form 301 Incident
 Report by establishments with 100 or
 more employees in designated industries
    Submission cost.....................       3,898,037
    Cost of rule familiarization........      \2\ 70,782        $497,033
Total Private Sector Costs..............       3,941,741
Total Government Costs..................         397,001

[[Page 18551]]

 
    Processing of annual submission of           201,148
     cases..............................
    Increased help desk support.........          25,000
    Software design/development.........     \3\ 170,853       1,200,000
                                         -------------------------------
        Total...........................   \4\ 4,338,742       1,697,033
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The annualized one-time costs appear in the Annual Costs column. The
  one-time costs are not additional costs.
\2\ If annualized over 10 years at 7%. $58,313 if annualized at 3%.
\3\ If annualized over 10 years at 7%. $140,677 if annualized at 3%.
\4\ Includes the one-time costs for rule familiarization and software
  design and development, annualized over 10 years at 7%.

    OSHA welcomes public comment on this analysis.

C. Benefits

    The main purpose of the proposed rule is to prevent worker injuries 
and illnesses through the collection and use of timely, establishment-
specific and case-specific injury and illness data. With the 
information obtained through this proposed rule, employers, employees, 
employee representatives, the government, and researchers will be 
better able to identify and mitigate workplace hazards and thereby 
prevent worker injuries and illnesses.
    The proposed rule would support OSHA's statutory directive to 
``assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation 
safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human 
resources'' (29 U.S.C. 651(b)) ``by providing for appropriate reporting 
procedures with respect to occupational safety and health which 
procedures will help achieve the objectives of this Act and accurately 
describe the nature of the occupational safety and health problem'' (29 
U.S.C. 651(b)(12)).
    The importance of the proposed rule in preventing worker injuries 
and illnesses can be understood in the context of workplace safety and 
health in the United States today. The number of workers injured or 
made ill on the job remains unacceptably high. According to the SOII, 
each year employees experience 2.7 million recordable non-fatal 
injuries and illnesses at work,\19\ and this number is widely 
recognized to be an undercount of the actual number of occupational 
injuries and illnesses that occur annually.\20\ As described above, the 
proposed rule would increase the agency's ability to focus resources on 
those workplaces where workers are at greatest risk. However, even with 
improved targeting, OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers can 
inspect only a small proportion of the nation's workplaces each year, 
and it would take many decades to inspect each covered workplace in the 
nation even once. As a result, to reduce worker injuries and illnesses, 
it is of great importance for OSHA to leverage its resources for 
workplace safety at the many thousands of establishments in which 
workers are being injured or made ill but which OSHA does not have the 
resources to inspect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See ``EMPLOYER-REPORTED WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES--
2020'', news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics/U.S. 
Department of Labor, 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, November 3, 2021.
    \20\ See e.g., Leigh JP, Du J, McCurdy SA. An estimate of the 
U.S. government's undercount of nonfatal occupational injuries and 
illnesses in agriculture. Ann Epidemiol. 2014 Apr;24(4):254-9. doi: 
10.1016/j.annepidem.2014.01.006. Epub 2014 Jan 22. PMID: 24507952; 
PMCID: PMC6597012; Spieler EA, Wagner GR. Counting matters: 
Implications of undercounting in the BLS survey of occupational 
injuries and illnesses. Am J Ind Med. 2014 Oct;57(10):1077-84. doi: 
10.1002/ajim.22382. PMID: 25223513.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed requirement would help OSHA encourage employers to 
prevent worker injuries and illnesses by greatly expanding OSHA's 
access to the establishment-specific, case-specific information 
employers are already required to record under part 1904. The proposed 
provisions requiring regular electronic submission of case-specific 
injury and illness data would allow OSHA to obtain a much larger data 
set of more timely, establishment-specific information about injuries 
and illnesses in the workplace. This information would help OSHA use 
its enforcement and compliance assistance resources more effectively by 
enabling OSHA to identify the workplaces where workers are at greatest 
risk. For example, OSHA could send hazard-specific educational 
materials to employers who reported cases related to those hazards. In 
addition, as discussed above, OSHA would be able to use the information 
to identify emerging hazards, support an agency response, and reach out 
to employers whose workplaces might include those hazards.
    The proposed collection would provide establishment-specific, case-
specific injury and illness data for analyses that are not currently 
possible. For example, OSHA could analyze the case-specific data 
collected under this system to answer the following questions:
    1. Within a given industry, what are the characteristics of 
recorded injuries or illnesses related to specific hazards (for 
example, fall from ladder or heat)?
    2. Within a given industry, what are the relationships between an 
establishment's hazard-specific/case-specific injury and illness data 
and data from other agencies or departments, such as the Wage and Hour 
Division, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Equal Employment 
Opportunities Commission?
    3. What are the changes in hazard-specific injuries or illnesses in 
a particular industry over time?
    Furthermore, access to establishment-specific, case-specific injury 
and illness data will enable OSHA to improve its evaluations of the 
effectiveness of its enforcement and compliance assistance activities. 
Having these data will enable OSHA to conduct rigorous evaluations of 
different types of programs, initiatives, and interventions in 
different industries and geographic areas, enabling the agency to 
become more effective and efficient. For example, OSHA would be able to 
compare the incidence and characteristics of heat-related illnesses 
before and after promulgation of a regulation on heat injury and 
illness prevention in outdoor and indoor work settings, thereby 
allowing the agency to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of 
the regulation.
    OSHA's collection and publication of establishment-specific, case-
specific injury and illness data would also encourage employers with 
100 or more employees to prevent injuries and illnesses among their 
employees, because
     Employers would prefer to support their reputations as 
good places to work at or do business with;
     Employers in a given high-hazard industry would be able to 
compare their

[[Page 18552]]

workplace's experience with a particular hazard with the experiences at 
other workplaces, allowing them to set hazard-abatement goals 
benchmarked to comparable establishments in their industry.
     Employees in establishments with 100 or more employees 
would be able to access the case-specific injury and illness 
information without having to request the information from their 
employers; this, in turn, would allow the employees in these 
establishments to better identify hazards within their own workplace 
and to take actions to have the hazards abated.
     Prospective employees would have access to data about 
specific hazards of particular concern, such as lead or trench 
collapses, allowing them to make a more informed decision about a 
future place of employment; this, in turn, would encourage employers to 
abate these hazards because potential employees, especially the ones 
whose skills are most in demand, might be reluctant to work at 
establishments that did not abate these hazards.
     Potential investors and the public would also have access 
to information about an establishment's experience with specific 
hazards, allowing them to preferentially invest in or patronize 
businesses that have successfully abated the hazards common in a given 
industry; this, in turn, would encourage employers to abate the hazards 
in order to attract investors and/or customers.
    Finally, disclosure of and access to establishment-specific, case-
specific injury and illness data have the potential to improve research 
on the distribution and determinants of workplace hazards, and 
therefore to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses from occurring by 
abating those hazards. Using data collected under the proposed rule, 
researchers might identify previously unrecognized patterns of injuries 
and illnesses across establishments where workers are exposed to 
similar hazards. Such research would be especially useful in 
identifying hazards that result in a small number of injuries or 
illnesses in each establishment but a large number overall, due to a 
wide distribution of those hazards in a particular area, industry, or 
establishment type. Data made available under this proposed rule could 
also allow researchers to identify patterns of hazard-specific injuries 
or illnesses that are masked by the aggregation of injury/illness data 
in the SOII.
    The availability of case-specific, establishment-specific injury 
and illness data would also be of great use to county, state and 
territorial health departments and other public institutions charged 
with injury and illness surveillance. In particular, aggregation of 
case-specific, establishment-specific injury and illness reports and 
rates from similar establishments would facilitate identification of 
newly-emerging hazards that would not easily be identified without 
linkage to specific industries or occupations. There are currently no 
comparable data sets available, and these public health surveillance 
programs must primarily rely on reporting of cases seen by medical 
practitioners, any one of whom would rarely see enough cases to 
identify an occupational etiology.
    Workplace safety and health professionals might use data published 
under this proposed rule to identify establishments whose injury/
illness records suggest that the establishments would benefit from 
their services to abate particular hazards or sets of hazards. In 
general, online access to this large database of establishment-
specific, case-specific injury and illness information would support 
the development of innovative ideas for improving workplace safety and 
health, and would better the ability of everyone with a stake in 
workplace safety and health to participate in improving occupational 
safety and health.
    Furthermore, because the data would be publicly available, 
industries, trade associations, unions, and other groups representing 
employers and workers would be able to evaluate the effectiveness of 
privately-initiated hazard-abatement initiatives that affect groups of 
establishments. In addition, linking these data with data residing in 
other administrative data sets would enable researchers to conduct 
rigorous studies that will increase our understanding of injury/illness 
causation, prevention, and consequences.
    Public access to these data would enable developers of software 
applications to develop tools that facilitate use of these data by 
employers, workers, researchers, consumers and others. Examples of this 
in other areas include apps for finding and comparing nursing homes, 
creating thematic maps of data from the American Community Survey, and 
obtaining real-time information on stream levels or bus/subway 
arrivals.
    The database resulting from this proposed rule would enable the 
collection and publication of case-specific, establishment-specific 
data without having to work under the restrictions imposed by the 
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act 
(CIPSEA) to protect information acquired for statistical purposes under 
a pledge of confidentiality. It would also provide data on injuries and 
illnesses that are not currently available from any source, including 
the BLS SOII. Specifically, under this collection, there would be case-
specific data for injuries and illnesses that do not involve days away 
from work. The BLS case and demographic data is limited to cases 
involving days away from work or cases involving job transfer or 
restricted work activity.

D. Economic Feasibility

    OSHA preliminarily concludes that the proposed rule will be 
economically feasible. For establishments with 100 or more employees in 
the industries designated in proposed appendix B, the average 
additional cost of submitting information from the OSHA Form 300 and 
301 will be $81 per year. These costs will not affect the economic 
viability of these establishments.

E. Alternatives

    1. Appendix A (industries where establishments with 20 or more 
employees are required to submit information from the OSHA Form 300A) 
is based on 2011-2013 injury rates from the SOII. OSHA could update 
appendix A to reflect the 2017-2019 injury rates from the SOII. This 
would result in the addition of one industry (NAICS 4831 (Deep sea, 
coastal, and great lakes water transportation)) and the removal of 13 
industries, as follows:

 4421 Furniture Stores
 4452 Specialty Food Stores
 4853 Taxi and Limousine Service
 4855 Charter Bus Industry
 5152 Cable and Other Subscription Programming
 5311 Lessors of Real Estate
 5321 Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing
 5323 General Rental Centers
 6242 Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other 
Relief Services
 7132 Gambling Industries
 7212 RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps
 7223 Special Food Services
 8113 Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except 
Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance.

    OSHA is proposing not to modify appendix A because it took several 
years for the regulated community to understand which industries were 
and were not required to submit information. Misunderstandings result

[[Page 18553]]

in both underreporting and overreporting. OSHA preliminarily believes 
that changing the requirements now would result in confusion for the 
regulated community. However, OSHA welcomes public comment on this 
alternative.
    2. OSHA could regularly update the list of designated industries in 
proposed appendix B (industries where establishments with 100 or more 
employees must submit information from the Form 300 and 301 as well as 
the 300A)--for example, every 6 years, to align with the PRA approval 
periods. In the 2016 final rule, OSHA agreed with the commenters who 
stated that the list of designated industries [appendix A, in this 
case] should not be updated each year. OSHA believed that moving 
industries in and out of the appendix each year would be confusing. 
OSHA also believed that keeping the same industries in the appendix 
each year would increase the stability of the system and reduce 
uncertainty for employers. Accordingly, OSHA did not, as part of that 
rulemaking, include a requirement to annually or periodically adjust 
the list of designated industries to reflect more recent BLS injury and 
illness data. OSHA committed that any such revision to the list of 
industries in the future would require additional notice and comment 
rulemaking. However, OSHA again welcomes public comment on this 
alternative for this rulemaking.

F. Regulatory Flexibility Certification

    The part of the proposed rule requiring submission of Form 300 and 
301 information from establishments with 100 or more employees in 
designated industries will affect some small entities, according to the 
definition of small entity used by the Small Business Administration 
(SBA). In some sectors, such as construction, where SBA's definition 
only allows relatively smaller firms, there are unlikely to be many 
firms with 100 or more employees that meet SBA small-business 
definitions. In other sectors, such as manufacturing, many SBA-defined 
small businesses will be subject to this rule. Thus, this part of the 
proposed rule will affect a small percentage of all small entities.
    However, because some small firms will be affected, especially in 
manufacturing, OSHA has examined the impacts on small businesses of the 
costs of this rule. OSHA's procedures for assessing the significance of 
proposed rules on small businesses suggest that if costs are greater 
than 1 percent of revenues or 5 percent of profits for the average 
firm, then OSHA conducts an additional assessment. To meet this level 
of significance at an estimated annual average cost of $81.13 per 
affected establishment per year, annual revenues for an establishment 
with 100 or more employees would have to be less than $8,113, and 
annual profits would have to be less than $1,623. According to the 2017 
Economic Census,\21\ there are no impacted industries that have 
revenues less than $8,113. Furthermore, based on the 2013 Corporation 
Source Book,\22\ there are no impacted industries earning less than 
$1,623.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The revenue numbers used to determine cost-to-revenue 
ratios were obtained from the 2017 Economic Census. This is the most 
current information available from this source, which OSHA considers 
to be the best available source of revenue data for U.S. businesses. 
OSHA adjusted these figures to 2019 dollars using the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis's GDP deflator, which is OSHA's standard source 
for inflation and deflation analysis.
    \22\ The profit screening test for feasibility (i.e., the cost-
to-profit ratio) was calculated as ETS costs divided by profits. 
Profits were calculated as profit rates multiplied by revenues. The 
before-tax profit rates that OSHA used were estimated using 
corporate balance sheet data from the 2013 Corporation Source Book 
(Internal Revenue Service, 2013). The IRS discontinued the 
publication of these data after 2013, and therefore the most current 
years available are 2000-2013. The most recent version of the Source 
Book represents the best available evidence for these data on profit 
rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As a result of these considerations, per section 605 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, OSHA certifies that the rule will not, if 
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities. Thus, OSHA has not prepared an initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis. OSHA is interested in comments on this 
certification.

V. OMB Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

A. Overview

    OSHA is proposing to amend its occupational injury and illness 
recordkeeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904.41, which contains information 
collections that are subject to review by OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and OMB 
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. The agency is not revising the existing 
ICR, 1218-0176, but rather requesting a new number for provisions being 
added or modified. The PRA defines ``collection of information'' to 
mean ``the obtaining, causing to be obtained, soliciting, or requiring 
the disclosure to third parties or the public, of facts or opinions by 
or for an agency, regardless of form or format.'' 44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A). 
Under the PRA, a Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection 
of information unless OMB approves it and the agency displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. 44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, no employer shall be 
subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information if the collection of information does not display a 
currently valid OMB control number. 44 U.S.C. 3512.

B. Solicitation of Comments

    OSHA prepared and submitted an ICR to OMB proposing to revise 
certain information collection requirements currently contained in the 
paperwork package in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 3507(d). The agency 
solicits comments on the revision to the information collection 
requirements and the reduction in estimated burden hours associated 
with these requirements, including comments on the following items:
     Whether the collection of information are necessary for 
the proper performance of the agency's functions, including whether the 
information is useful;
     The accuracy of OSHA's estimate of the burden (time and 
cost) of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
     The quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and
     Ways to minimize the compliance burden on employers, for 
example, by using automated or other technological techniques for 
collecting and transmitting information.

C. Proposed Information Collection Requirements

    As required by 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) and 1320.8(d)(2), the 
following paragraphs provide information about this ICR.
    1. Title: Improve Tracking Workplace Injury and Illness.
    2. Description of the ICR: This proposed rule would revise the 
currently approved Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational Injuries 
and Illnesses Information Collection and change the existing 
information collection requirements currently approved by OMB.
    3. Brief Summary of the Information Collection Requirements. Under 
``Information Requirements on Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational 
Injuries and Illnesses,'' OMB Control Number 1218-0176, OSHA currently 
has OMB approval to conduct an information collection that requires 
employers to maintain information on work-related fatalities, injuries, 
and illnesses, and to report this

[[Page 18554]]

information to OSHA. The proposed rule would make three changes to 
Sec.  1904.41.
    First, OSHA will no longer require electronic submission of Form 
300A information from establishments with 250 or more employees in 
industries that are routinely required to keep part 1904 injury and 
illness records but are not in appendix A.
    Second, OSHA will newly require all establishments that have 100 or 
more employees and are in certain designated industries to 
electronically submit information from the OSHA Form 300 and 301 to 
OSHA or OSHA's designee. This is in addition to the current requirement 
for these establishments to electronically submit information from the 
OSHA Form 300A. Each establishment subject to this provision will 
require time to familiarize themselves with the reporting website.
    Third, OSHA will require establishments that are required to 
electronically report information from their injury and illness records 
to OSHA under part 1904, to include their company name as part of the 
submission. No additional paperwork burden is associated with the 
provision.
    In addition, Docket exhibit OSHA-2021-006-0004 shows an example of 
an expanded interface to collect case-specific data. Screen shots of 
this interface can also be viewed on OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/proposed_data_form.html. OSHA invites public 
comment on these user interfaces, including suggestions on any 
interface features that would minimize the burden of reporting the 
required data.
    4. OMB Control Number: 1218-0NEW.
    5. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    6. Number of Respondents: 48,919.
    7. Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    8. Number of Responses: 429,876.
    9. Average Time per Response: Time per response varies.
    10. Estimated total burden hours: 71,646.
    11. Estimated costs (capital-operation and maintenance): $0.

D. Submitting Comments

    Members of the public may comment on the paperwork requirements in 
this proposed regulation by sending their comments to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the 
Department of Labor, OSHA Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) (1218-
AD40), by email: [email protected]. Please limit the comments 
to only the proposed changed provisions of the recordkeeping rule 
(i.e., proposed Sec.  1904.41).
    OSHA encourages commenters also to submit their comments on these 
paperwork requirements to the rulemaking docket (OSHA-2021-0006), along 
with their comments on other parts of the proposed regulation. For 
instructions on submitting these comments to the docket, see the 
sections of this Federal Register document titled DATES and ADDRESSES. 
Comments submitted in response to this document are public records; 
therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about submitting personal 
information, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth.

E. Docket and Inquiries

    To access the docket to read or download comments and other 
materials related to this paperwork determination, including the 
complete Information Collection Request (ICR), use the procedures 
described under the section of this document titled ADDRESSES. You may 
obtain an electronic copy of the complete ICR by going to the website 
at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, then select ``Department 
of Labor'' under ``Currently Under Review'', then click on ``submit''. 
This will show all of the Department's ICRs currently under review, 
including the ICRs submitted for proposed rulemakings. To make 
inquiries, or to request other information, contact Ms. Seleda 
Perryman, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone (202) 
693-4131; email [email protected].

VI. Unfunded Mandates

    For purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.), as well as Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 
1999)), this proposed rule does not include any Federal mandate that 
may result in increased expenditures by state, local, and tribal 
governments, or increased expenditures by the private sector of more 
than $100 million.

VII. Federalism

    OSHA reviewed this proposed rule in accordance with Executive Order 
13132 (64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999)), regarding federalism. Because this 
rulemaking involves a ``regulation'' issued under sections 8 and 24 of 
the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 657, 673), and not an ``occupational safety and 
health standard'' issued under section 6 of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 
655), the rule will not preempt state law (see 29 U.S.C. 667(a)). The 
effect of the proposed rule on states is discussed in section VIII. 
State Plans.

VIII. State Plans

    For the purposes of section 18 of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 667) and 
the requirements of 29 CFR 1904.37, 1902.3(j), 1902.7, and 1956.10(i), 
within 6 months after publication of the final OSHA rule, State Plans 
must promulgate occupational injury and illness recording and reporting 
requirements that are substantially identical to those in 29 CFR part 
1904 ``Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.'' 
State Plans must have the same requirements as Federal OSHA for 
determining which injuries and illnesses are recordable and how they 
are recorded (29 CFR 1904.37(b)(1)). All other part 1904 injury and 
illness recording and reporting requirements (for example, industry 
exemptions, reporting of fatalities and hospitalizations, record 
retention, or employee involvement) that are promulgated by State Plans 
may be more stringent than, or supplemental to, the Federal 
requirements, but, because of the unique nature of the national 
recordkeeping program, states must consult with OSHA and obtain 
approval of such additional or more stringent reporting and recording 
requirements to ensure that they will not interfere with uniform 
reporting objectives (29 CFR 1904.37(b)(2)).
    There are 28 State Plans. The states and territories that cover 
private sector employers are Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, 
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New 
Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, 
Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Connecticut, 
Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands have 
OSHA-approved State Plans that apply to state and local government 
employees only.

IX. Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

    OSHA reviewed this proposed rule in accordance with Executive Order 
13175 (65 FR 67249) and determined that it would not have ``tribal 
implications'' as defined in that order. The proposed rule would not 
have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the 
relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes.

[[Page 18555]]

X. Public Participation

    Because this rulemaking involves a regulation rather than a 
standard, it is governed by the notice and comment requirements in the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) rather than section 6 
of the OSH Act (29 U.S.C. 655) and 29 CFR part 1911 (both of which only 
apply to ``promulgating, modifying or revoking occupational safety or 
health standards'' (29 CFR 1911.1)). Therefore, the OSH Act requirement 
to hold an informal public hearing (29 U.S.C. 655(b)(3)) on a proposed 
rule, when requested, does not apply to this rulemaking.
    Section 553(b)(1) of the APA requires the agency to issue a 
``statement of the time, place, and nature of public rulemaking 
proceedings'' (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(1)). The APA does not specify a minimum 
period for submitting comments.
    OSHA invites comment on all aspects of the proposed rule. OSHA 
specifically encourages comment on the questions raised in the issues 
and questions subsection. Interested persons must submit comments by 
May 31, 2022. The agency will carefully review and evaluate all 
comments, information, and data, as well as all other information in 
the rulemaking record, to determine how to proceed. When submitting 
comments, persons must follow the procedures specified above in the 
sections titled DATES and ADDRESSES.

Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the direction of Douglas L. 
Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and 
Health, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20210. It is issued under sections 8 and 24 of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. 657, 673), section 553 of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), and Secretary of 
Labor's Order No. 08-2020 (85 FR 58393, Sept. 18, 2020).

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1904

    Health statistics, Occupational safety and health, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 23, 2022.
Douglas L. Parker,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

Amendments to Standards

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, OSHA proposes to amend part 
1904 of chapter XVII of title 29 as follows:

PART 1904--[AMENDED]

Subpart E--Reporting Fatality, Injury and Illness Information to 
the Government

0
1. Revise the authority citation for part 1904, subpart E, to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 29 U.S.C. 657, 673, 5 U.S.C. 553, and Secretary of 
Labor's Order No. 08-2020 (85 FR 58393, Sept. 18, 2020) or 1-2012 
(77 FR 3912, Jan. 25, 2012), as applicable.

0
2. Amend Sec.  1904.41 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) and (b)(1);
0
b. Add paragraphs (b)(9) and (10); and
0
c. Revise paragraph (c).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:

Sec.  1904.41   Electronic submission of Employer Identification Number 
(EIN) and injury and illness records to OSHA.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (1) Annual electronic submission of information from OSHA Form 300A 
Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by establishments with 
20 or more employees in designated industries. If your establishment 
had 20 or more employees at any time during the previous calendar year, 
and your establishment is classified in an industry listed in appendix 
A to subpart E of this part, then you must electronically submit 
information from OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and 
Illnesses to OSHA or OSHA's designee. You must submit the information 
once a year, no later than the date listed in paragraph (c) of this 
section of the year after the calendar year covered by the form.
    (2) Annual electronic submission of information from OSHA Form 300 
Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 301 Injury and 
Illness Incident Report, and OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related 
Injuries and Illnesses by establishments with 100 or more employees in 
designated industries. If your establishment had 100 or more employees 
at any time during the previous calendar year, and your establishment 
is classified in an industry listed in appendix B to subpart E of this 
part, then you must electronically submit information from OSHA Forms 
300, 301, and 300A to OSHA or OSHA's designee. You must submit the 
information once a year, no later than the date listed in paragraph (c) 
of this section of the year after the calendar year covered by the 
forms.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Annual electronic submission of information from part 1904 
injury and illness recordkeeping forms to OSHA--(i) Does every employer 
have to routinely make an annual electronic submission of information 
from part 1904 injury and illness recordkeeping forms to OSHA? No, only 
two categories of employers must routinely submit this information. The 
first category is establishments that had 20 or more employees at any 
time during the previous calendar year, and are classified in an 
industry listed in appendix A to this subpart; establishments in this 
category must submit the required information from Form 300A to OSHA 
once a year. The second category is establishments that had 100 or more 
employees at any time during the previous calendar year, and are 
classified in an industry listed in appendix B to this subpart; 
establishments in this category must submit the required information 
from Forms 300, 301, and 300A to OSHA once a year. Employers in these 
two categories must submit the required information by the date listed 
in paragraph (c) of this section of the year after the calendar year 
covered by the form (for example, 2022 for the 2021 form(s)). If your 
establishment is not in either of these two categories, then you must 
submit the information to OSHA only if OSHA notifies you to do so for 
an individual data collection.
    (ii) My establishment had 100 or more employees last year and is in 
an industry that is listed in both appendix A and appendix B. Do I have 
to submit the information from the Form 300A twice? No, you only have 
to submit the information from the Form 300A once.
* * * * *
    (9) If I have to submit information under paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section, do I have to submit all of the information from the 
recordkeeping forms? No, you are required to submit all of the 
information from the forms except the following:
    (i) Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300): 
Employee name (column B).
    (ii) Injury and Illness Incident Report (OSHA Form 301): Employee 
name (field 1), employee address (field 2), name of physician or other 
health care professional (field 6), facility name and address if 
treatment was given away from the worksite (field 7).
    (10) My company uses numbers or codes to identify our 
establishments. May I use numbers or codes as the establishment name in 
my submission? Yes, you may use numbers or codes as the establishment 
name. However, the submission must include the company name, either as 
part of the establishment

[[Page 18556]]

name or separately as the company name.
    (c) Reporting dates. Establishments that are required to submit 
under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section must submit all of the 
required information by March 2 of the year after the calendar year 
covered by the form(s) (for example, by March 2, 2022, for the forms 
covering 2021).
0
3. Revise appendix A to subpart E to read as follows:

Appendix A to Subpart E of Part 1904--Designated Industries for Sec.  
1904.41(a)(1) Annual Electronic Submission of Information From OSHA 
Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses by 
Establishments With 20 or More Employees in Designated Industries

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            NAICS                              Industry
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11..........................  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and
                               hunting.
22..........................  Utilities.
23..........................  Construction.
31-33.......................  Manufacturing.
42..........................  Wholesale trade.
4413........................  Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire
                               Stores.
4421........................  Furniture Stores.
4422........................  Home Furnishings Stores.
4441........................  Building Material and Supplies Dealers.
4442........................  Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies
                               Stores.
4451........................  Grocery Stores.
4452........................  Specialty Food Stores.
4522........................  Department Stores.
4523........................  General Merchandise Stores, including
                               Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters.
4533........................  Used Merchandise Stores.
4542........................  Vending Machine Operators.
4543........................  Direct Selling Establishments.
4811........................  Scheduled Air Transportation.
4841........................  General Freight Trucking.
4842........................  Specialized Freight Trucking.
4851........................  Urban Transit Systems.
4852........................  Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation.
4853........................  Taxi and Limousine Service.
4854........................  School and Employee Bus Transportation.
4855........................  Charter Bus Industry.
4859........................  Other Transit and Ground Passenger
                               Transportation.
4871........................  Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation,
                               Land.
4881........................  Support Activities for Air Transportation.
4882........................  Support Activities for Rail
                               Transportation.
4883........................  Support Activities for Water
                               Transportation.
4884........................  Support Activities for Road
                               Transportation.
4889........................  Other Support Activities for
                               Transportation.
4911........................  Postal Service.
4921........................  Couriers and Express Delivery Services.
4922........................  Local Messengers and Local Delivery.
4931........................  Warehousing and Storage.
5152........................  Cable and Other Subscription Programming.
5311........................  Lessors of Real Estate.
5321........................  Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing.
5322........................  Consumer Goods Rental.
5323........................  General Rental Centers.
5617........................  Services to Buildings and Dwellings.
5621........................  Waste Collection.
5622........................  Waste Treatment and Disposal.
5629........................  Remediation and Other Waste Management
                               Services.
6219........................  Other Ambulatory Health Care Services.
6221........................  General Medical and Surgical Hospitals.
6222........................  Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals.
6223........................  Specialty (except Psychiatric and
                               Substance Abuse) Hospitals.
6231........................  Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing
                               Facilities).
6232........................  Residential Intellectual and Developmental
                               Disability, Mental Health, and Substance
                               Abuse Facilities.
6233........................  Continuing Care Retirement Communities and
                               Assisted Living Facilities for the
                               Elderly.
6239........................  Other Residential Care Facilities.
6242........................  Community Food and Housing, and Emergency
                               and Other Relief Services.
6243........................  Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
7111........................  Performing Arts Companies.
7112........................  Spectator Sports.
7121........................  Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar
                               Institutions.
7131........................  Amusement Parks and Arcades.
7132........................  Gambling Industries.
7211........................  Traveler Accommodation.
7212........................  RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and
                               Recreational Camps.
7223........................  Special Food Services.
8113........................  Commercial and Industrial Machinery and
                               Equipment (except Automotive and
                               Electronic) Repair and Maintenance.

[[Page 18557]]

 
8123........................  Drycleaning and Laundry Services.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
4. Add appendix B to subpart E to read as follows:

Appendix B to Subpart E of Part 1904--Designated Industries for Sec.  
1904.41(a)(2) Annual Electronic Submission of Information From OSHA 
Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 301 
Injury and Illness Incident Report, and OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-
Related Injuries and Illnesses by Establishments With 100 or More 
Employees in Designated Industries

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            NAICS                              Industry
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1111........................  Oilseed and grain farming.
1112........................  Vegetable and melon farming.
1113........................  Fruit and tree nut farming.
1114........................  Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture
                               production.
1119........................  Other crop farming.
1121........................  Cattle ranching and farming.
1122........................  Hog and pig farming.
1123........................  Poultry and egg production.
1129........................  Other animal production.
1141........................  Fishing.
1151........................  Support activities for crop production.
1152........................  Support activities for animal production.
1153........................  Support activities for forestry.
2213........................  Water, sewage and other systems.
2381........................  Foundation, structure, and building
                               exterior contractors.
3111........................  Animal food manufacturing.
3113........................  Sugar and confectionery product
                               manufacturing.
3114........................  Fruit and vegetable preserving and
                               specialty food manufacturing.
3115........................  Dairy product manufacturing.
3116........................  Animal slaughtering and processing.
3117........................  Seafood product preparation and packaging.
3118........................  Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing.
3119........................  Other food manufacturing.
3121........................  Beverage manufacturing.
3161........................  Leather and hide tanning and finishing.
3162........................  Footwear manufacturing.
3211........................  Sawmills and wood preservation.
3212........................  Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood
                               product manufacturing.
3219........................  Other wood product manufacturing.
3261........................  Plastics product manufacturing.
3262........................  Rubber product manufacturing.
3271........................  Clay product and refractory manufacturing.
3272........................  Glass and glass product manufacturing.
3273........................  Cement and concrete product manufacturing.
3279........................  Other nonmetallic mineral product
                               manufacturing.
3312........................  Steel product manufacturing from purchased
                               steel.
3314........................  Nonferrous metal production and
                               processing.
3315........................  Foundries.
3321........................  Forging and stamping.
3323........................  Architectural and structural metals
                               manufacturing.
3324........................  Boiler, tank, and shipping container
                               manufacturing.
3325........................  Hardware manufacturing.
3326........................  Spring and wire product manufacturing.
3327........................  Machine shops; turned product; and screw,
                               nut, and bolt manufacturing.
3328........................  Coating, engraving, heat treating, and
                               allied activities.
3331........................  Agriculture, construction, and mining
                               machinery manufacturing.
3335........................  Metalworking machinery manufacturing.
3361........................  Motor vehicle manufacturing.
3362........................  Motor vehicle body and trailer
                               manufacturing.
3363........................  Motor vehicle parts manufacturing.
3366........................  Ship and boat building.
3371........................  Household and institutional furniture and
                               kitchen cabinet manufacturing.
3372........................  Office furniture manufacturing.
4231........................  Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and
                               supplies merchant wholesalers.
4233........................  Lumber and other construction materials
                               merchant wholesalers.

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4235........................  Metal and mineral merchant wholesalers.
4244........................  Grocery and related product merchant
                               wholesalers.
4248........................  Beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic
                               beverage merchant wholesalers.
4413........................  Automotive parts, accessories, and tire
                               stores.
4422........................  Home furnishings stores.
4441........................  Building material and supplies dealers.
4442........................  Lawn and garden equipment and supplies
                               stores.
4451........................  Grocery stores.
4522........................  Department stores.
4523........................  General merchandise stores, including
                               warehouse clubs and supercenters.
4533........................  Used merchandise stores.
4543........................  Direct selling establishments.
4811........................  Scheduled air transportation.
4841........................  General freight trucking.
4842........................  Specialized freight trucking.
4851........................  Urban transit systems.
4852........................  Interurban and rural bus transportation.
4854........................  School and employee bus transportation.
4859........................  Other transit and ground passenger
                               transportation.
4871........................  Scenic and sightseeing transportation,
                               land.
4881........................  Support activities for air transportation.
4883........................  Support activities for water
                               transportation.
4911........................  Postal Service.
4921........................  Couriers and express delivery services.
4931........................  Warehousing and storage.
5322........................  Consumer goods rental.
5621........................  Waste collection.
5622........................  Waste treatment and disposal.
6219........................  Other ambulatory health care services.
6221........................  General medical and surgical hospitals.
6222........................  Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals.
6223........................  Specialty hospitals.
6231........................  Nursing care facilities.
6232........................  Residential intellectual and developmental
                               disability, mental health, and substance
                               abuse facilities.
6233........................  Continuing care retirement communities and
                               assisted living facilities for the
                               elderly.
6239........................  Other residential care facilities.
6243........................  Vocational rehabilitation services.
7111........................  Performing arts companies.
7112........................  Spectator sports.
7131........................  Amusement parks and arcades.
7211........................  Traveler accommodation.
7212........................  RV parks and recreational camps.
7223........................  Special food services.
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[FR Doc. 2022-06546 Filed 3-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P