2022 OSHA 300A Posting and Reporting

Posted on by

Welcome to 2022! Did you know that it’s time again to prepare, certify and post your OSHA 300A Annual Summary of workplace injuries and illnesses in your workplace? It’s required for all U.S. employers, except those with ten or fewer employees or those whose NAICS code is in the set of low-hazard industries that are exempt from OSHA’s injury and illness recordkeeping requirements. If employers in State Plan states (e.g. Washington) have questions about their obligation to submit injury and illness information, please contact your State Plan office.

Your workplace Annual Summary must be posted from February 1st to April 30th. Electronic reporting is also due by March 2nd for employers with 20 or more employees.

For the PDF versions of the OSHA 300 forms series, click here or for more information on OSHA 300 reporting click here.

Wildfire Smoke Rule Enacted to Protect Workers

Posted on by

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed an emergency rule effective July 16, 2021, to protect workers from potential hazards related to wildfire smoke. The emergency rule applies to workplaces where employers “reasonably anticipate that employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke.” Wildfire smoke exposure is potentially a serious health risk to all workers, but those working outside in industries such as construction and agriculture are significantly impacted.

Inhalation of particulate matter measured at 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), which is elevated during wildfire smoke events, has been shown to cause adverse cardiovascular health effects. The emergency rule includes employer requirements for checking PM2.5 levels, communication, training, monitoring, and implementation of various exposure controls, as well as requirements for providing respiratory protection when PM2.5 levels reach certain levels.

The rule goes into effect July 16, 2021, and enforcement of the rule occurs at later dates: July 23, 2021, for exposure controls and the respiratory protection provision, and August 2, 2021, for worker training.

For more information regarding the rule, its requirements and exemptions, and wildfire smoke hazards, see https://lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-topics/topics/wildfire-smoke.

Governor Inslee Declares Wildfire State of Emergency

Posted on by

Effective July 6, 2021, Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide wildfire state of emergency relating to the number of early season wildfires and included statewide restrictions on outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2021.

“Washington is facing a historic drought and we have already experienced record-breaking heat. We must be vigilant in our efforts to prevent wildfires, and the loss of life and destruction of land and property that comes with them,” Inslee said. “We don’t want a repeat of recent years with dangerous wildfires across the state that have destroyed towns, killed livestock and resulted in weeks of unhealthy air quality. I urge everyone to do their part to help protect our beautiful state and all our communities.”

The Washington National Guard has been activated by this proclamation to assist with wildfire suppression efforts.

To read the state of emergency proclamation, click here.