How Safe is Your Workplace? It’s Time to Tell OSHA.

OSHA Accident Free Workplace

Most private employers with 10 or more employees who do not fall within a low risk industry (click here for a list of industries partially exempt from recordkeeping) are required to maintain records of any and all work-related illnesses or injuries using OSHA Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report.  For all employers that must maintain these records, an annual report of work-related incidents is due on February 1st, using OSHA Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses or a similar OSHA-approved state form.  Employers are also required to post a summary of all work-related injuries and illnesses in a conspicuous location within their workplace for all employees to see from February 1st through April 30th using OSHA Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses and some employers with 20 or more employees are also required to post their summaries online by July 1st. These postings must be made even if there were no recorded incidents.

What Qualifies as a Work-Place Related Injury or Illness?

Any injury or illness that results in the following should be included in your incident log:

  • Death
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Days away from work
  • Restricted work activity or job transfer, or
  • Medical treatment beyond first aid

Employers also must keep track of any and all work-related cases of:

  • Injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional
  • Cancer
  • Chronic, Irreversible Disease
  • A Fractured or Cracked Bone
  • Punctured Ear Drum
  • Needle-stick or cuts from sharp objects contaminated by another person’s blood or other potentially infectious material
  • Employee requiring medical removal by OSHA standards
  • Tuberculosis infection diagnosed by positive skin test or by a physician/licensed medical professional
  • Employee who has experienced a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in one or both ears within defined parameters

Which States have OSHA-approved State Plans?

The following states / territories have OSHA-approved state plans for worker safety:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Oregon
  • Puerto Rico
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

OSHA currently does not have regulations, nor jurisdiction over State, municipal or volunteer fire departments, as noted in a October 11, 2006, OSHA interpretation letter.  However, several states are considering legislation that would extend OSHA protections for these workers.

Click here to obtain copies of OSHA 300, 300A and 301 and instructions.