Every year OSHA requires employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596) to post a summary (OSHA Form 300A) of illnesses and job-related injuries that occurred the previous year.
This information must be posted for three months, from February 1 to April 30, and the illness and injury records, also known as OSHA 300 logs or simply OSHA logs, must be kept for five years following the calendar year covered by them.
OSHA considers record keeping, to be a critical part of an employer’s safety and health efforts for several reasons:
- Keeping track of work-related injuries and illnesses can help you prevent them in the future.
- Using injury and illness data helps identify problem areas.
- The more you know, the better you can identify and correct hazardous workplace conditions.
- You can better administer company safety and health programs with accurate records.
- As employee awareness about injuries, illnesses, and hazards in the workplace improves, employees are more likely to follow safe work practices and report workplace hazards.
FAQ for OSHA’s Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Rule provides guidelines for OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements.
OSHA 300 logs can help you refine and improve your safety strategy and reduce injuries and other work related health hazards. Now is an excellent time to review your logs.
Products that can help you with OSHA Recordkeeping
OSHA 300 Recordkeeping software
OSHA Recordkeeping Safety Product List
OSHA Recordkeeping for Employees Video Program DVD/VHS
OSHA Recordkeeping for Managers, Supervisors and Other Employees Regulatory Compliance Kit DVD/VHS