OSHA 300 log: what it is and how to use it

OSHA’s yearly assignment – what’s recordable?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in the private sector in 2022. This was an increase of 7.5% from 2021, highlighting the importance of proper injury and illness recordkeeping.

Understanding the recording requirements for occupational injuries is essential for employers with a safety-first attitude who constantly strive for compliance with safety regulations.

The OSHA Form 300 is a crucial component of workplace safety recordkeeping. It’s a detailed log where employers must document all work-related injuries and illnesses. During an OSHA inspection, inspectors will carefully review your Form 300 to assess your company’s safety practices and compliance with regulations.

What is the OSHA Form 300?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with more than 10 full-time employees to keep an annual log of all work-related injuries and illnesses.

The OSHA Form 300 is where employers are required to record:

• All reportable injuries and illnesses that occur in their workplace;
• Where and when they occur;
• The nature of the case;
• The name and job title of the affected employee;
• And the number of days away from work or on restricted or light duty.

Recordable events

As part of your injury and illness recordkeeping, the following types of injuries or illnesses should be recorded on the OSHA 300 log:

• Any work-related fatality.
• Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job.
• Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
• Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.

Special recording criteria

There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis. At the end of the year, post the summary page of the logs in a public area on February 1st and leave them up until at least April 30th.

Not all injuries or illnesses need to be recorded, though. OSHA has published a list of first aid measures at 29 CFR 1904.7(b)(5)(ii) that do not have to be recorded. Many companies find this list useful because they can hire in-house medical personnel, or send employees to dedicated occupational clinics to provide first aid care that is equivalent to medical treatment. First aid care does not need to be recorded and the employee receives proper treatment.

Other injury and illness forms

In addition to the OSHA Form 300, which is the primary log, two additional forms are used to record work-related injuries and illnesses.

Form 301

This form is called the Injury and Illness Incident Report and is used to record information on how each injury or illness case occurred.

Form 300-A

The OSHA Form 300-A is a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded on Form 300. It must be posted prominently in the workplace for employees to see, typically where other workplace notices are displayed. This annual posting is required from February 1 through April 30. A company executive must certify the accuracy and completeness of Form 300-A before it is posted.

Be prepared to manage injuries

The best method of injury management is prevention, of course. A robust hazard identification and injury and illness prevention plan can reduce the risk of injury and illness. If an injury does occur, a case management program should be in place to provide prompt and appropriate care to the worker.

A case management plan should have the following elements:

• Designated roles and responsibilities.
• A list of nearby medical facilities – preferably occupational clinics.
• Ability to accommodate restricted work.
• A return-to-work plan for extended time away.

Safety plans and procedures and employee training mitigate the risk of employee injury and illness. Without these in place, you risk having to pay higher workers’ compensation insurance premiums, loss of productive time, lower staff morale, and possible missed work for companies that report statistics through third-party contractor verification services.

OSHA 300 Form FAQs

BLR’s EHS Hero® provides the necessary resources to ensure you can always find the answer to the question… Is it reportable?

EHS Hero seamlessly combines EHS compliance and management into a 360-degree solution that provides industry professionals with everything they need to automate and improve their EHS programs. If you’re still unsure of whether something is reportable, use the EHS Hotline tool to get thorough, plain-English answers from BLR’s team of EHS professionals. With these resources at your disposal, you can maintain your injury and illness records with confidence.

Below are a few frequently asked questions about OSHA 300 forms and the direction given by OSHA.

1. How long must forms be kept? – Five years.
2. Which employees are covered by the recording-keeping requirements? – All employees on the payroll are covered.
3. Are workers allowed to see these forms? – Yes. Employers must provide copies of the OSHA 30 Logs and Form 301 Incident Report free of charge. Once a request is made, these documents must be provided by the end of the next business day.
4. What if workers are scared to report their injuries and illnesses? – It is illegal for employers to discriminate or harass workers for reporting an injury or illness.