The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced sweeping new public disclosure requirements for workplace injuries and illnesses on May 11, ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability for employers who were previously able to hide safety records from employees, investors and the general public.
Under the old law, OSHA required employers in high-hazard industries to keep a record of injuries and illnesses, but little if any of that information ever became public or was even reported directly to the agency.