Employers Must Post Injury/Illness Summaries

OSHA reminded employers that beginning Feb. 1, they must compile a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during 2007 and post this information in a common area in the workplace.

Employers must use the injury and illness information recorded in their OSHA 300 log to complete the OSHA Form 300A (summary). This form must be posted from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2008.

“The OSHA 300 logs provide employers and employees a broad view of where injuries and illnesses are occurring at their worksites,” stated OSHA Administrator Edwin Foulke Jr. “Identifying and posting injury and illness information provides employers and employees with useful information to help ensure a more safe and healthful workplace.”

Employers also are required to provide information about the annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the calendar year to assist in calculating incidence rates. Companies with no recordable injuries or illnesses in 2007 must post the form with zeroes on the total line.

Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers in certain industries normally are exempt from federal OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and posting requirements. A complete list of exempt industries in the retail, services, finance, insurance and real estate sectors is posted on the OSHA Web site.

Copies of OSHA Forms 300 and 300A are available on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html in either Adobe PDF or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format.