OSHA injury records and reporting

Two different systems

Workers' comp claims go to your insurer under state law. OSHA rules are federal safety rules with their own forms and deadlines. Reporting a claim to your insurer does not meet your OSHA duties, and the reverse is also true. Some injuries need both.

Severe injury reports

Almost all employers must report these events to OSHA, even if they are exempt from keeping logs:

• A work-related death within 8 hours.
• An in-patient hospital stay, an amputation, or the loss of an eye within 24 hours.
• Report by phone to your nearest OSHA office, by calling 1-800-321-6742, or online.

Injury and illness logs

Many employers must keep three OSHA forms:

• Form 300: a log of recordable work injuries and illnesses.
• Form 301: a detailed report for each recordable case.
• Form 300A: a yearly summary that you post from February 1 to April 30.

Who is exempt from the logs

If your company had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year, you do not need to keep OSHA injury logs unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics tells you in writing that you must. Businesses in certain lower-risk industries are also partly exempt. Some larger employers in high-risk industries must also send their data to OSHA online each year.

State plans

More than 20 states run their own OSHA-approved safety programs. These state plans must be at least as strict as federal OSHA and can add their own rules. Check whether your state has a state plan.

Good habits

Use one incident form that collects what you need for both your insurer and OSHA. Keep OSHA logs for five years. Never discourage workers from reporting injuries, since OSHA rules protect workers who report.