In filing a notice in the Federal Register to switch from using the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is thus freeing many businesses from injury and illness reporting while adding even more businesses to the required list.
OSHA uses Days Away, Restrictions and Transfer (DART) rates from statistics compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine which industries must adhere to the injury and illness reporting mandate. The affected industries are listed in Appendix A to Subpart B of OSHA's recordkeeping rule.
As a result of the switch to the NAICS, Appendix A now frees 119,374 establishments affecting four million workers from reporting requirements, but adds 198,736 establishments with some 5.3 million employees. Gone are corporate offices, cellular phone operators, newspaper publishers, and travel agencies; added are new and used car dealerships, hardware stores, residential property management firms, museums, pet supply stores, retail bakeries, and 52 other types of businesses.
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees will continue to be exempt from the reporting requirement.