WASHINGTON — The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has delayed the compliance deadline for roofing contractors and other construction professionals to electronically complete injury and illness reports until Dec. 1.

Approved last year, the reporting rule requires the public disclosure of workplace injuries and illnesses in an effort to improve tracking efforts and transparency in roofing and other industries. However, it generated substantial controversy and opposition from roofing professionals and other employers in high-hazard industries. Primarily, opponents challenged the requirement to send OSHA injury and illness data contained on the OSHA 300 logs for the sole purpose of sharing the information on its website without proper context.  

The new requirement was to be implemented by July 1. However, the proposed delay will now allow government regulators an opportunity to further review and consider the rule, according to a news release.

“A further delay of the compliance date is appropriate for the purpose of additional review into questions of law and policy,” the release stated. It also provides roofing contractors a four-month window for submitting data that the original rule would have provide.

OSHA invites the public to comment on the proposed deadline extension. Comments may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by mail or facsimile. The deadline for submitting comments is July 13.