Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/705618
lated injury, filing a safety or health complaint, or asking to see the employer's injury and illness logs. These provisions have raised addi- tional concerns for employers. The rule regarding "reasonable" procedures is targeted at employers' safety incentive plans. If an employer has a safety incen- tive plan where employees get a bonus, or days off, or an award if the employee, department, or company has a certain number of days without injury, employ- ees may be hesitant to report injuries and illnesses. It is precisely these kind of incentive plans the new rule intends to eliminate. The rule also outlines digital report- ing of occupational injuries and illnesses for businesses with 20-249 employees in "high-hazard" industries. Water well drilling firms with more than 20 em- ployees may be considered "high-haz- ard" by virtue of how their state compensation laws are written. Businesses with 20-249 employees in certain industries must electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A only. Businesses with 250 or more employees must also include informa- tion from Forms 300 and 301. The new requirements on data sub- missions will be phased in beginning in 2017. These requirements do not add to or change an employer's obligation to complete and retain injury and illness records under the Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation. In determining business size, the final rule states: "Each individual em- ployed in the establishment at any time during the calendar year counts as one employee, including full-time, part- time, seasonal, and temporary workers." Employers should check with their respective state to see if the digital reporting part of the rule affects them. For more information and how to contact OSHA regarding the final rule affecting your company, visit www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp .show_document?p_table=NEWS_ RELEASES&p_id=31860. Residential Heat Pump Tax Credits Extension Urged During Lobby Day NGWA joined other renewable en- ergy advocates in a Lobby Day in sup- port of extending the investment tax credit, known as Section 25D, for installation of geothermal heat pumps in residential applications. Section 48, which provides a tax credit for commercial installation, has seen widespread support on Capitol Hill, but Section 25D has not seen the same level of support. To combat this and ensure any extension of Section 48 also includes 25D, NGWA spent June 30 on Capitol Hill meeting with offices to push for a five-year extension. NGWA joined with renewable energy advocates, including the National Asso- ciation of Home Builders, in support of Section 25D. With tax credits set to expire on De- cember 31, establishing an extension of the tax credit as soon as possible will help boost markets for geothermal heat pumps by providing as much long-term planning certainty as possible. 87 Organizations Urge Senate to Pass Water Resources Bill A broad coalition of industry and business groups, including NGWA, came together to urge Senate considera- NEWS continues on page 14 WWJ August 2016 13 Twitter @WaterWellJournl