The tightly-knit Washington OSHA subculture will be out in force this Thursday no matter what the wind-chill factor is to attend an all-day (9-4:30) hearing at the Labor Department set up to, in Washington-speak, “allow interested parties to comment on the proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA's proposed rule amends its current recordkeeping regulations to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information employers are already required to keep under existing standards.”

Note the press release says nothing specifically about the most controversial aspect of the proposal, the plan to make accessible to the public each worksite’s injury and illness records, including details about accidents resulting in injuries or deaths. That is what has attracted almost all of the 138 comments sent in to OSHA, with more on the way: OSHA has extended the public comment period until March 6, 2014.