What Is OSHA 300A
OSHA Form 300A is the annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses. Employers with 10 or more employees must complete it by March 2 each year, covering all recordable injuries and illnesses from the prior calendar year. The form totals injury and illness cases from your OSHA 300 Log, then gets posted in a visible location from February 1 through April 30.
This form serves as your official snapshot of workplace safety performance. It includes total hours worked, number of injuries, illnesses, days away from work, job transfer cases, and restricted work cases. OSHA uses aggregate 300A data across industries to identify hazard trends and establish inspection priorities. A high injury rate on your 300A can trigger unannounced inspections.
Regulatory Requirements
The 300A must be signed by a company executive, plant manager, or an individual with equivalent authority. False certification carries penalties up to $10,000 per violation. Your facility is required to provide a copy to requesting employees or their representatives within four business days. Since 2017, employers in certain high-hazard industries must submit their 300A data electronically to OSHA.
If you employ workers in different locations, each establishment with 10 or more employees needs its own summary form. Temporary staffing agencies report injuries under their own OSHA account, not the client company's. Home safety auditors and contractors must track any work-related incidents affecting their employees using the same 300A requirements if they meet the 10-employee threshold.
What Gets Reported on 300A
- Recordable cases: Work-related injuries or illnesses requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, resulting in lost work time, restricted work, or job transfer
- Days away from work (DAFW): Calendar days an employee missed due to injury or illness
- Job transfers/restricted work (JTWC): Cases where an employee continued working but in a different role with limitations
- Near-misses: Not included on 300A, though they should inform your safety audit process
- Total hours worked: Cumulative employee hours for all employees at that location during the year
Posting and Compliance
The posted 300A must be visible and accessible to all employees. Common posting locations include break rooms, safety bulletin boards, main entrances, or any area employees regularly visit. Digital posting is permitted if employees can readily access it without requesting a password or special login. You cannot post it in restricted areas where employees cannot view it during their work time.
Failure to post results in citations and penalties averaging $1,500 to $7,000 per violation. If an OSHA inspector finds discrepancies between your 300 Log and 300A summary, both documents come under scrutiny. During chemical handling audits or fire safety inspections, inspectors routinely cross-reference 300A data against incident reports and medical records.
Common Questions
- Do I need to file 300A if I have fewer than 10 employees? No. Employers with 1 to 9 employees are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping requirements unless you are in a high-hazard industry targeted for electronic reporting. However, maintaining your own incident records supports emergency preparedness and insurance claims.
- What happens if I discover errors on last year's 300A? Amend the form and re-post it with a written explanation. You have 30 days after discovery to correct it. Document the correction in your safety files.
- How does 300A data affect workplace audits? Safety auditors use your injury rate and case types to identify hazard patterns. If your 300A shows multiple chemical exposure cases, the audit will emphasize chemical handling procedures and personal protective equipment compliance.
Related Concepts
- OSHA 300 Log - the detailed daily record that feeds into your 300A summary
- OSHA 301 - the individual injury and illness report form documenting each case