Recording

Under OSHA's recordkeeping regulation at 29 CFR Part 1904, many employers with 10 or more employees are required to keep a record of occupational injuries and illnesses. (Certain low-risk industries are exempted.) These covered employers must keep a record of occupational injuries and illnesses using OSHA Recordkeeping Forms (OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301) or equivalent forms.

This information is important for employers, workers and OSHA in evaluating the safety and health of a workplace, understanding industry hazards, and implementing worker protections to reduce and eliminate workplace hazards.

See 29 CFR Part 1904 and resources on this website for more information.

Recording forms

Download OSHA Recordkeeping Forms

Covered employers’ responsibilities for keeping injury and illness records under 29 CFR 1904
  • Covered employers must record work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses that meet OSHA's recording criteria under 29 CFR 1904.4 – 1904.11 using OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301. (Employers with 10 or fewer employees and certain low-risk industries are exempted.)
  • Under section 1904.32, at the end of each calendar year, covered employers must:
    • Review the OSHA Form 300 Log for the previous year for completeness and accuracy
    • Complete the OSHA Form 300A summary of the injuries and illnesses, or an equivalent form
    • Certify the OSHA Form 300A summary
    • Post the OSHA Form 300A summary in the workplace from February 1st - April 30th
  • Under section 1904.33:
    • Covered employers must save the OSHA Form 300 Log, the privacy case list (if one exists), the Form 300A summary, and the OSHA Form 301 Incident Reports for five (5) years.
  • Under section 1904.35, if requested, copies of these records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives, as well as to OSHA.
  • Under section 1904.41, from January 2 – March 2, certain employers must electronically submit injury and illness data to OSHA's ITA. Check to see if your establishment is required to submit.
decision tree

How to Determine if a Work-Related Injury or Illness is Recordable

See section 1904.4(b)(2) –

  1. Did the employee experience an injury or illness?
  2. Is the injury or illness work-related? (See section 1904.5)
    • An injury or illness is work related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the injury or illness or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness.
    • Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses that result from events or exposures in the work environment, unless an exception listed in section 1904.5(b)(2) specifically applies.
    • See Section 1904.5(b)(2) work-related exceptions
  3. Is the injury or illness a new case? (See section 1904.6) (If this is not a new case, update the previously recorded injury or illness entry if necessary.)
  4. Does the injury or illness meet the general recording criteria or the application to specific cases? (See sections 1904.7, 1904.8, 1904.9, 1904.10, and 1904.11)

If the answer to all of the above questions is YES, then record the injury or illness on your OSHA Recordkeeping Forms (OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301) or equivalent forms.

first-aid

What is a recordable injury or illness?

  • Under section 1904.7, General Recording Criteria, a work-related injury or illness must be recorded if it results in:
    • Death
    • Days away from work
    • Restricted work, or transfer to another job
    • Medical treatment beyond first aid
    • Loss of consciousness, days away from work
    • A significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional - 1904.7(b)(7)
  • There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving:

How does OSHA define medical treatment and first aid?

  • If a work-related injury or illness results in medical treatment beyond first aid, you must record it on the OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
  • For the purposes of part 1904, medical treatment means the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder.
  • Medical treatment does not include (work-related event is not recordable):
    • Visits to a physician or other licensed health care professional solely for observation or counseling.
    • The conduct of diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays and blood tests, including the administration of prescription medications used solely for diagnostic purposes (e.g., eye drops to dilate pupils); or
    • "First aid" as defined in 29 CFR 1904.7(b)(5)(ii).