Recordkeeping: Injury and Illness

Course Description:

This online recordkeeping training course is recommended for employees and supervisors required to maintain U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) illness and injury recordkeeping forms and those who need to know about the recordkeeping requirements. By the end of this training session, employees and supervisors will understand which employers are affected by recordkeeping standards, appropriate recordkeeping forms, how to reporting to the government, employee rights regarding recordkeeping, and injury and illness recording criteria.

Why “Recordkeeping: Injury and Illness” Matters:

All employers covered by OSHA regulations, including general, construction, and maritime industries, are also covered by the recordkeeping requirements, unless the employer meets an exemption.

If your company had 10 or fewer employees for the entire calendar year, it is partially exempt from the recordkeeping requirements. This is not an average of 10 or fewer employees over the year, but peak employment during the calendar year.

Employers classified in a specific low-hazard retail, service, finance, insurance, or real estate industry are partially exempt from recording injuries and illnesses. The specific list of exempt, low-hazard industries is contained in 29 CFR 1904, Subpart B, Appendix A.

OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) may require a partially exempt employer to comply with recordkeeping requirements and will inform the employer in writing that injury, illness, and fatality records must be kept.

All employers, whether exempt from recordkeeping requirements or not, must report to OSHA any workplace incident that results in a fatality or the hospitalization of three or more employees. Call your local area OSHA office, or call the main OSHA line at 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742).

Key Points:

• Identify which employers are required to keep records
• Determine whether an injury or illness is a recordable case
• Learn how to properly fill out recordkeeping forms
• Report fatalities and serious injuries to the government when required
• Determine whether your establishment is required to electronically submit records
• Inform employees of their rights to report injuries and illnesses free from retaliation