The U.S. Department of Labor has announced OSHA has begun to publish the names of employers with reported fatalities on a weekly basis, according to a DOL press release.

Previously, only the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration posted worker fatality data on its Web site.

Now, OSHA is also systematically publishing employer-specific information about occupational fatalities online and making these data available for easy download, according to the press release. Each incident is described by employer name, OSHA region where fatality occurred, and a brief explanation of how the death occurred.

Comprehensive, weekly reports on this topic are now available at www. osha.gov/dep/fatcat/dep_fatcat.html Employers with reported fatalities will have an incentive to take steps to improve safety and prevent future accidents. In addition, responsible employers will be able to use the database to identify dangerous conditions and take precautions, according to the DOL.