It's That Time Again: Post Your OSHA 300 Log Summary
OSHA's 29CFR 1904.1 requires all employers with more than 10 employees to keep a record of workplace injuries and illnesses. All employers are required to complete this recordkeeping unless they have 10 or fewer employees during all of the last calendar year or the business is classified in a specific low-hazard retail, service, finance, insurance, or real estate industry. Click on the following link to see a list of Partially Exempt Industries.
Because the OSHA Record Keeping Rule has many facets, this blog will only outline what OSHA requires for forms and posting. More detail regarding definitions, requirements, timelines, and forms can be found at the OSHA Recordkeeping web page.
As we close the book on 2012 it's time to review the workplace injuries that occurred over the past year, enter recordable injuries on the OSHA 300 Log, and post the summary. In the Recordkeeping Standard, OSHA outlines:
- What is considered a recordable injury
- How injuries are categorized
- Forms, on which, injuries are recorded
- How long to post the summary, and
- How long to keep the forms
Following is a general outline of the steps you have to take to complete the required forms:
- Review your OSHA 300 log for 2012 (relevant injuries that occurred January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012) - 29 CFR 1904.29.
- Complete the OSHA 300a Summary form by February 1, 2013 - 29 CFR 1904.32.
- Post the OSHA 300a Summary form from February 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013 - 29 CFR 1904.3.
- Fill out the OSHA 301, or equivalent form (some state workers' compensation first reports may be acceptable), for each OSHA recordable injury on the OSHA 300 log.
Some businesses receive an Annual OSHA Injury and Illness Survey. This must be completed as directed in the survey and returned to OSHA or the stated designee [1904.41(a)], in addition to the forms/logs described above.
The forms, instructions, and the OSHA standard can also be found through the following links:
The standard is well written and in a question and answer format.
