Federal OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

Severe Injury Reporting

Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours.

Recordkeeping Requirements

Certain employers with more than 10 employees are required to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses on OHSA's Form 300, the "Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses," and OSHA's Form 301, the "Injury and Illness Incident Report." Many industries are exempt, and are listed below.

The following work-related injuries or illnesses are serious and therefore must be recorded:

• 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 diagnosis of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.
• Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid. The following work-related injuries or illnesses are considered first aid:
• Using a non-prescription medication at nonprescription strength.
• Administering tetanus immunizations.
• Cleaning, flushing, or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin.
• Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids™, or gauze pads or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips™.
• Using hot or cold therapy.
• Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, or non-rigid back belts.
• Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an accident victim (for example, splints, slings, neck collars, or backboards).
• Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister.
• Using eye patches.
• Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab.
• Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs, or other simple means.
• Using finger guards.
• Using massages (but not physical therapy or chiropractic treatment).
• Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

Special recording criteria apply to work-related cases involving needlesticks and sharps injuries, medical removal, hearing loss, or tuberculosis.

Maintaining and Posting Records

Records of serious work-related injuries and illnesses must be maintained at the work site for at least 5 years. Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year on OSHA's Form 300A, the "Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses." Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees or their representatives.

You can access OSHA'a forms via the links under “Related Content” on the left-hand side of the screen.

Exempt Industries

• Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
• Legal Services
• Electronics and Appliance Stores
• Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
• Health and Personal Care Stores
• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
• Gasoline Stations
• Specialized Design Services
• Clothing Stores
• Computer Systems Design and Related Services
• Shoe Stores
• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
• Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
• Scientific Research and Development Services
• Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores
• Advertising and Related Services
• Book, Periodical, and Music Stores
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Florists
• Office Administrative Services
• Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
• Business Support Services
• Nonscheduled Air Transportation
• Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services
• Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
• Investigation and Security Services
• Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
• Elementary and Secondary Schools
• Other Pipeline Transportation
• Junior Colleges
• Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other
• Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
• Freight Transportation Arrangement
• Business Schools and Computer and Management Training
• Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers
• Technical and Trade Schools
• Software Publishers
• Other Schools and Instruction
• Motion Picture and Video Industries
• Educational Support Services
• Sound Recording Industries
• Offices of Physicians
• Radio and Television Broadcasting
• Offices of Dentists
• Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
• Offices of Other Health Practitioners
• Telecommunications Resellers
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Other Telecommunications
• Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
• Internet Service Providers and Web Search Portals
• Child Day Care Services
• Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
• Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures
• Other Information Services
• Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
• Monetary Authorities - Central Bank
• Rooming and Boarding Houses
• Depository Credit Intermediation
• Full-Service Restaurants
• Nondepository Credit Intermediation
• Limited-Service Eating Places
• Activities Related to Credit Intermediation
• Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
• Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage
• Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
• Securities and Commodity Exchanges
• Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance
• Other Financial Investment Activities
• Personal Care Services
• Insurance Carriers
• Death Care Services
• Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
• Religious Organizations
• Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds
• Grantmaking and Giving Services
• Other Investment Pools and Funds
• Social Advocacy Organizations
• Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers
• Civic and Social Organizations
• Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)
• Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations