Administration » OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements Under 29 CFR Part 1904

Under the OSHA Rule for Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (the Recordkeeping rule, 29 CFR Part 1904), covered employers are required to keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses at their establishments. Employers covered by these rules must record each recordable employee injury and illness on an OSHA Form 300, “Log of Work-related Injuries and Illnesses”, or equivalent. Employers must also prepare a supplementary OSHA Form 301, “Injury and Illness Incident Report” or equivalent that provides additional details about each case recorded on the 300 Log.  Finally, at the end of each year, employers are required to prepare a summary report of all injuries and illnesses on the OSHA Form 300A, which is the “Summary of Work-related Injuries and Illnesses”, and post the form in a visible location in the workplace.  These forms are available on OSHA’s website.

The information in these records 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 hazards. The records can be a useful part of a thorough worksite hazard analysis to assess the health and safety needs of facilities and to evaluate the effectiveness of specific interventions. The records can be used to identify tasks and jobs with higher risks of injury and illness, to monitor trends and to gauge the effectiveness of intervention efforts.

Updates to OSHA's Recordkeeping Rule, 29 CFR Part 1904

OSHA's updated recordkeeping rule, which took effect January 1, 2015, expands the list of severe injuries that all employers must report to OSHA. According to the updated Recordkeeping rule, employers have to report the following to OSHA:

  • All work-related fatalities, within 8 hours of finding out about them;
  • All work-related inpatient hospitalizations, within 24 hours of finding out about them;
  • All work-related amputations, within 24 hours of finding out about them; and
  • All work-related losses of an eye, within 24 hours of finding out about them.

Employers have three options for reporting the event:

  • By telephone to the nearest OSHA Area Office during normal business hours.
  • By telephone to the 24-hour OSHA hotline at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
  • Report online using OSHA’s Serious Event Reporting Online Form (Form No. OSHA 6-40.1).

Additional Information