Any employer included in both the FY 1997 OSHA data collection and the FY 1998 OSHA data collection will be subject to citation if they do not return the requested data by the end of the data collection process ( September, 1998 ). Establishments that are included in the data collection for the first time in FY 1998 will not be subject to sanctions for simply not returning the form with the data, but they may be subject to sanctions if other recordkeeping regulations are violated. The data collection process includes at least two mailings and at least two call backs to the employer to collect the data. The employer has the option to submit the data by mail, by fax, or over the Internet.

If such employer fails to respond to the FY 1998 data collection process, they will be sent a last request for the data by OSHA and informed that the next request for the data will contain a citation and penalty: the citation will be for violation of 29 CFR 1904.17. The employer has the following rights and responsibilities of which he will be informed with the citation:

1. The employer can have an informal meeting with the area director where his data is supplied and the area director can reduce the penalty.
2. The employer can pay a reduced (specified in the citation) penalty and submit the data with the penalty.

Clarification: This policy addresses only responses to the collection of CY 1997 data during 1998. Sanctions will be based only on employer non-response to the CY 1997 collection during 1998. The employers presence in the CY 1996 collection during 1997 will determine if the employer is eligible to be subject to sanctions and the employer's response or not to the CY 1996 collection during 1997 is not a consideration.