Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/692967
cess to this data will also enable employ- ers to benchmark their safety and health performance against industry leaders to improve their own safety programs. Under the new rule, all establishments with 250 or more employees in indus- tries covered by the recordkeeping reg- ulation must electronically submit to OSHA injury and illness information from OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301. Establishments with 20-249 em- ployees in certain industries must elec- tronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A only. To ensure that the injury data on OSHA logs are accurate and complete, the final rule also promotes an em- ployee's right to report injuries and ill- nesses without fear of retaliation, and clarifies that an employer must have a reasonable procedure for reporting work-related injuries that does not dis- courage employees from reporting. This aspect of the rule targets employer programs and policies that, while nom- inally promoting safety, have the effect of discouraging workers from reporting injuries and, in turn, leading to incom- plete or inaccurate records of workplace hazards. The new requirements take effect Au- gust 10, 2016, with phased-in data sub- missions beginning in 2017. These re- quirements do not add to or change an employer's obligation to complete and retain injury and illness records under the Recording and Reporting Occupa- tional Injuries and Illnesses regulation. Opponents of the rule, which was first proposed in 2013, say the measure will have unintended consequences that will negatively impact the American busi- ness community. Further, they claim the federal agency has overstepped its authority to publish such employer records, which previously remained confidential. Conferences July 69th IIW Annual Assembly and In- ternational Conference: July 10-15. UPDATE:Events 8 POWDER COATING, June 2016 and improving efficiency, OSHA has rolled out more durable and secure completion cards for its 10-hour and 30-hour voluntary safety classes. The Outreach Training Program com- pletion cards resemble credit card stock, with authorizing logos, a watermark when copied, and a QR code for au- thentication. The new cards for stu- dents and trainers are more difficult to copy, and include verifiable informa- tion such as ways to contact the trainer who conducted the course. The new process also reduces the number of days it takes to request and process cards. OSHA's basic safety courses are tailored to construction, maritime, and general industry, as well as classes for disaster site workers. The courses cover the ba- sics of workers' rights and OSHA pro- tections, and describe how to identify, avoid, and prevent workplace hazards. While not required by OSHA, some states and employers require workers to complete the training. More than 830,000 students were trained under the program in fiscal year 2015. NASF honors student with design award WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Na- tional Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) Chapters of Southern and Northern California, in partnership with the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., have announced that Bernard Mitchel is the first-place scholarship winner of the 2015 Fall Bright Design Challenge. Mitchel will receive a $5,000 scholarship for the winning design. This annual program prompts students to think beyond tra- ditional design theory to develop next- generation creative and engineering so- lutions using surface technology. Allnex names new CEO BRUSSELS, Belgium—Allnex, a lead- ing supplier of resins for architectural, industrial, OEM, and special purpose coatings, has named a new CEO. The specialty chemicals company an- nounced the appointment of Miguel Mantas to the position of CEO effective February 1, 2016. Mantas succeeds Frank Aranzana in the leadership role. Aranzana will now become a member of the Allnex Advisory Committee. Mantas brings more than three decades of global executive experience in the chemicals and materials industry to the company. Hannibal expands to add powder coating line LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Steel manu- facturer Hannibal Industries Inc. is building a 42,000-square-foot expan- sion at its already 110,000-square-foot facility in northwest Houston, Tex., that will house the company's new powder coating production line, an en- vironmental room, and additional of- fice space. The company plans to open the plant in September. In addition, Steve Rogers has been named the exec- utive vice president of Hannibal Indus- tries and will relocate to the Houston office. OSHA issues final rule on workplace injuries, illnesses WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Occu- pational Safety and Health Administra- tion (OSHA) has issued a final rule to modernize injury data collection to bet- ter inform workers, employers, the pub- lic, and OSHA about workplace haz- ards. With this new rule, OSHA is ap- plying the insights of behavioral eco- nomics to improve workplace safety and prevent injuries and illnesses. OSHA requires many employers to keep a record of injuries and illnesses to help these employers and their employ- ees identify hazards, fix problems, and prevent additional injuries and illnesses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more than 3 million workers suffer a workplace injury or illness every year. Currently, little or no information about worker injuries and illnesses at in- dividual employers is made public or available to OSHA. Under the new Rule to Improve Track- ing of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, employers in high-hazard industries will send OSHA injury and illness data that the employers are already required to collect for posting on the agency's web- site. The availability of this data will en- able prospective employees to identify workplaces where their risk of injury is lowest. As a result, employers compet- ing to hire the best workers will make injury prevention a higher priority. Ac-