Employers Must Post Form 300(A) by Feb. 1

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to post its Form 300(A) each Feb. 1, detailing the previous year's work-related injuries and illnesses. The form must be left posted in a conspicuous place until April 30. Two exemptions exists: One for employers who had 10 or fewer employees all year long, the other for certain low-hazard industries. Details are available on OSHA's Recordkeeping Rule web page. In addition to the posted log, applicable employers must also fill out two forms. According to OSHA instructions: The OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping forms are:

• the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300),
• the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A), and
• the Injury and Illness Incident  Report (OSHA Form 301).

Employers must fill out the Log and the Incident Report only if a recordable work-related injury or illness has occurred. Employers must fill out and post the Summary annually, even if no recordable work-related injuries or illnesses occurred during the year. In place of the OSHA forms, employers may also use equivalent forms (forms that have the same information, are as readable and understandable, and are completed using the same instructions as the OSHA forms they replace). Many employers use an insurance form instead of the Incident Report, or supplement an insurance form by adding information required by OSHA.