(From a release from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.)

In response to public requests, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is extending the comment period on revising the recordkeeping and reporting requirements for work-related injuries and illnesses. Anyone interested in submitting comments has until Oct. 28, 2011, to do so.

Under the proposal rule revisions, employers would be required to report to OSHA any work-related fatalities and all in-patient hospitalizations within eight hours, and work-related amputations within 24 hours. OSHA’s current regulation requires employers to report to OSHA, within eight hours, all work-related fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations of three or more employees.

OSHA is also proposing to update Appendix A of the recordkeeping rule that lists industries partially exempt from the requirements to maintain work-related injury or illness logs. These industries received partial exemption because of their relatively low injury and illness rates.

See the Federal Register notice for details on how to submit comments. Technical questions should be directed to David Schmidt, OSHA Office of Statistical Analysis, at 202-693-2400.