Preventing workplace injuries and illnesses is always the focus of any company’s health and safety program; however, despite best efforts to eliminate workplace hazards and reduce risk, workplace injuries and illnesses still happen.

In my current position in the private sector and as a former OSHA Compliance Officer, I have provided safety and health consultation to employers in a wide range of industries. In both roles, I have noticed that many employers are not aware of their worker safety compliance obligations. Typical requirements that may be overlooked include injury and illness recordkeeping and reporting, documenting those records with sufficient detail, or submitting required records in a timely manner.

OSHA’s Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation, 29 CFR 1904, provides the compliance obligations for employers for recordable workplace injuries and illnesses. Many employers with more than ten employees are required to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses. (Certain low-risk industries are exempted). Minor injuries requiring first aid only do not need to be recorded. Visit the following links for more information on these topics:

During my career, I have found that some employers do not record occupational injuries and illnesses altogether. The basic requirement for recording listed in 29 CFR 1904.7(a) states: The employer must record any work-related injury or illness meeting the general recording criteria. That is, if it results in any of the following: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. Also, if it involves a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.

OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Forms

Employers must use the required forms (or forms soliciting equivalent information). OSHA provides the following forms for injury and illness recordkeeping purposes:

Recording Details and Following Instructions Required by the Form

In my experience, when an employer has kept injury and illness records, the records lack the detail required and the instructions were not followed. There are numerous examples of this: not classifying the case correctly; entering the wrong information on number of days away from work or days of restricted work; incorrect tallying of injury and illness case totals; or lack of employer representative signature are a few examples commonly mentioned.

Maintaining and Posting Records

The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years. Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives.

Severe Injury Reporting

Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours.

Electronic Submission of Records

On many occasions, I’ve noted that an employer has failed to submit injury and illness records to OSHA in a timely manner or not at all. OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA) provides a secure website that offers three options for injury and illness data submissions. You can manually enter your data, upload a CSV file to add multiple establishments at the same time, or transmit data electronically via an API (application programming interface).

Who is covered by this reporting requirement?

Only a small fraction of establishments are required to electronically submit their Form 300A data to OSHA. Establishments that meet any of the following criteria DO NOT have to electronically report their information to OSHA. Remember, these criteria apply at the establishment level, not to the firm as a whole.

  • The establishment's peak employment during the previous calendar year was 19 or fewer, regardless of the establishment's industry.
  • The establishment's industry is on Appendix A to Subpart B of OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, regardless of the size of the establishment.
  • The establishment had a peak employment between 20 and 249 employees during the previous calendar year AND the establishment's industry is NOT on Appendix A to Subpart E of OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation.

What must covered establishments submit?

Covered establishments must electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A.

When must covered establishments submit their completed Form 300A?

  • Establishments must submit the required information by March 2 of the year after the calendar year covered by the forms (for example, by March 2, 2022 for the forms covering calendar year 2021).
  • If the submission due date of March 2 has passed, establishments that meet the reporting requirements and failed to do so must still report their Form 300A data through the ITA and can do so until December 31.

Does OSHA provide training for the general public on recordkeeping requirements?

Yes. Through its national network of OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers, OSHA offers the OSHA #7845 Recordkeeping Rule Seminar course. This half-day course covers the OSHA requirements for maintaining and posting records of occupational injuries and illnesses, and reporting specific cases to OSHA. Included in the course are hands-on activities associated with completing the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and the OSHA Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report. To search for specific course locations and dates, please visit the OTI Education Centers searchable schedule.

David Blane is a Senior Health and Safety Specialist. He is a Certified Safety Professional by the Board of Safety Professionals. He provides health and safety compliance auditing, program development, training, and industrial hygiene monitoring to Cornerstone’s industrial and construction sector clients. Blane formerly served as an OSHA compliance inspector.

Recent Posts