OSHA REQUIREMENTS:
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Do you know if your company is required to follow the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act)? Part of the United States Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards, and establishes safety and health standards for workplace operations. The OSH Act covers any employer that is engaged in a business affecting interstate commerce.
Employers in many industries are exempt from OSHA’s basic injury and illness recordkeeping requirements. However, they still may be required to maintain records pursuant to specific applicable OSHA standards (See 29 C.F.R. 1904 et seq.). Additionally, all employers must report fatalities in the workplace or the hospitalization of three or more employees resulting from a workplace incident.
It is important to know that covered employers must retain the following records to comply with the Act:
Form 300 — Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
Form 301 — Injury and Illness Incident Report.
This form is used to record details about a workplace injury or illness, including the following: