OSHA 300 Log
The OSHA 300 Log is the official record where employers document all work-related injuries and illnesses that result in lost work time, restricted duty, medical treatment beyond first aid, or specific recordable conditions. Every employer with 10 or more employees must maintain this log for each calendar year and post it in a visible location between February 1 and April 30.
Regulatory Requirements
OSHA requires covered employers to record injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 Log within 7 calendar days of learning about the incident. The log tracks four key data points: the employee's name and job title, the date of injury or onset of illness, a description of what happened, and the outcome (days away from work, job transfer, medical treatment). Employers must also keep the log for five years following the end of the year in which incidents occurred. For example, injuries recorded in 2024 must be retained through December 31, 2029.
OSHA conducts unannounced workplace inspections where compliance with 300 Log recordkeeping is a standard audit element. Non-compliance penalties range from $170 to $10,750 per violation as of 2024, depending on the severity and willfulness of the violation.
Practical Implementation
- Injury Classification: Record incidents involving chemical exposure, burns, falls, cuts requiring stitches, respiratory issues from fume inhalation, and repetitive strain injuries. Minor cuts, abrasions, or bruises that require only first aid do not require logging unless they involve severe chemical or bloodborne pathogen exposure.
- Chemical Handling Incidents: All chemical-related injuries triggering medical evaluation, including skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion, must be logged with details about the substance and exposure level.
- Documentation Process: Record the incident on the 300 Log form, then file the corresponding OSHA 301 Incident Report Form with supporting medical documentation.
- Fire and Emergency Safety: Burns from workplace fires, electrical incidents, and evacuation-related injuries are all recordable and must be logged with incident context.
- Annual Summary: On or before February 1, complete the OSHA 300A Summary totaling all injuries and illnesses from the previous year, certify it, and post it.
How It Differs From Related Forms
The 300 Log is the master record. The OSHA 301 form captures detailed information about each individual incident and supports the data entered in the 300 Log. The OSHA 300A is the annual summary that gets posted publicly, showing total injury counts by category but no employee names.
Common Questions
- Do homeowners need an OSHA 300 Log? No. OSHA 300 Log requirements apply only to employers with 10 or more employees. Homeowners conducting home repairs or maintenance are not covered by OSHA recordkeeping rules, though they should still follow general safety practices for fire prevention, chemical storage, and electrical work.
- What happens if an employee gets injured but returns to work the same day? If the injury required medical treatment beyond first aid or involved restricted work duties, it is still recordable and must be logged. Same-day return does not automatically exclude an incident.
- How should chemical exposure incidents be documented on the log? Include the chemical name, route of exposure (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion), the outcome (medical evaluation, hospitalization, ongoing treatment), and any resulting work restrictions. This detail supports OSHA audits and helps identify chemical safety gaps in your emergency preparedness protocols.