As we head into the end of the year, OSHA recordkeeping rules are always on the minds of employers and HR professionals. OSHA recordkeeping rules should not be seen as a burden, but an opportunity to learn from prior mistakes, improve safety and save money in the future.
Who has to keep an OSHA log?
Many employers are required to keep an OSHA log, but not all. Some exceptions to the Recordkeeping rules are: smaller employers with 10 or less employees during the year and employers categorized as low-hazard.
Partially Exempt Industries link.
Forms
For those employers that do have to maintain an OSHA Recordkeeping log, there are three forms that actually have to be completed.
- OSHA 300 Form – A log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
- OSHA Form 301 – Injury and Illness Incident Report (or an acceptable substitute. In NY, a C-2 qualifies as an acceptable substitute)
- OSHA Form 300A – Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (filled out once per year and posted from February 1 through April 30
When completing these forms, it is important that any non-exempt organization enters information on any work-related injury or illness that resulted in the following:
- Death
- Loss of consciousness
- Days away from work
- Restricted work activity or job transfer, and
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
Special Criteria for Recordkeeping
The recordkeeping rule also contains special criteria for recording an occupational hearing loss, tuberculosis, and injuries from needlesticks and sharps potentially contaminated with blood-borne pathogens.
How Recordkeeping Saves Money
Proper record-keeping is not only imperative to avoid fines, but can lead to future savings on your workers’ compensation costs.
When an employee injury occurs, proper recordkeeping can enable employers to identify the root cause of the injury and take meaningful corrective action to eliminate the accident from re-occurring.
With fewer employee injuries, over time your experience modification will decrease and lead to a reduction in your workers’ compensation premiums for years to come.
You can ask Friedlander Group’s Safety Specialist, Ray Sullivan (raymonds@friedlandergroup.com), any OSHA recordkeeping questions or check out the OSHA website.
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