Recordkeeping FAQ Search | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Use key words to search Q & As on OSHA's injury and illness recordkeeping requirements for employers. From this page you can search a repository of questions and answers from the regulation rule itself as well as from requests for information submitted to the Agency. Simply type any key word(s) into the input field below, then select the Search button to view a list of resulting questions that link to answers. If a search on this page does not answer your question, you can submit your question using OSHA's e-correspondence form.

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Note: Unless the search results indicate that the source for the Q & A is the recordkeeping rule (29 CFR 1904), the Q & As presented do not themselves impose enforceable recordkeeping or reporting obligations, since such obligations are imposed only by the regulation.

Results: 125 records found

Q: Where would I go to get benchmarking statistics on Occupational Health and Safety in food producing facilities? Namely I am interested in industry averages for the number of work related injuries or illnesses.

You can find occupational injury and illness statistical information on the Bureau of Labor Statistics webpage at http://www.bls.gov/iif/home.htm

FAQ ID: 66

Source: OSHA e-correspondence

Q: Which baseline is used to determine if a recordable Standard Threshold Shift (STS) has occurred this year?

Employers should use the same baseline that they would use to comply with OSHA's Noise Standard, Part 1910.95. If the employer chose to revise an employee's baseline due to a previous STS, then the employer would use the same revised baseline when determining recordability under section 1904.10 of the recordkeeping regulation.

For more information, explore OSHA's Recordkeeping Requirements.

FAQ ID: 10-2

Source: FAQs

Q: Who determines whether an employee was formally admitted to the in-patient service of a hospital or clinic for care or treatment?

The hospital or clinic makes the determination.

For more information, explore OSHA's Recordkeeping Requirements.

FAQ ID: 39-8

Source: FAQs

Q: Who should report a fatality or in-patient hospitalization of a temporary worker?

Similar to the requirements in section 1904.31 for recording injuries and illnesses, the employer that provides the day-to-day supervision of the worker must report to OSHA any work-related incident resulting in a fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye.

For more information, explore OSHA's Recordkeeping Requirements.

FAQ ID: 39-9

Source: FAQs

Q: Why are employers required to keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses?

The OSH Act of 1970 requires the Secretary of Labor to produce regulations that require employers to keep records of occupational deaths, injuries, and illnesses. The records are used for several purposes. Injury and illness statistics are used by OSHA. OSHA collects data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) to help direct its programs and measure its own performance. Inspectors also use the data during inspections to help direct their efforts to the hazards that are hurting workers. The records are also used by employers and employees to implement safety and health programs at individual workplaces. Analysis of the data is a widely recognized method for discovering workplace safety and health problems and for tracking progress in solving those problems. The records provide the base data for the BLS Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the Nation's primary source of occupational injury and illness data.

For more information, explore OSHA's Recordkeeping Requirements.

FAQ ID: 0-1

Source: FAQs