OSHA Recordable vs. Reportable Incidents: How to Tell the Difference
Recordable versus reportable incidents: What’s the difference? Find out in this quick guide on complying with OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904.
If you have more than 10 employees or work in an industry with a higher-than-average potential for hazardous incidents—which covers nearly all metalworking shops and manufacturing facilities—then you’re subject to OSHA recording and reporting rules.
OSHA’s recordable versus reportable incidents: What’s the difference? What must a manufacturing plant share with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?
Manufacturing floor chiefs and safety managers need to know the answer to both these questions and be aware of the recordkeeping and reporting requirements necessary to stay in compliance with government regulations.
Every business should start with this baseline: If a worker suffers an injury, illness or dies while on the job, the company will likely need to record it. That’s the most basic definition of a recordable incident.
What Is an OSHA Reportable OSHA Incident?
OSHA is specific on what constitutes a reportable incident, as well as what information must be reported to the government and how quickly.
A fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye is considered a “serious” workplace incident that must be reported directly to OSHA—by phone or online—usually within hours.
A business must notify OSHA of any fatality within eight hours of learning of the death.
It must notify OSHA of any inpatient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours of becoming aware of it.
Inpatient hospitalization encompasses all formal admissions to the inpatient service of a hospital or clinic for care or treatment, safety compliance services firm KPA notes in a blog post. “Hospitalization doesn’t necessarily mean that the employee stays overnight; if they’ve been admitted for inpatient treatment, the event must be reported,” the organization says.
The reporting windows took effect when OSHA updated its recordkeeping standard, 29 CFR 1904, in 2015.
The chief reason for the change was to help identify workplaces with potentially chronic safety issues, former OSHA administrator David Michaels said in the fall of 2014.
“Hospitalizations and amputations are sentinel events, indicating that serious hazards are likely to be present at a workplace and that an intervention is warranted to protect the other workers at the establishment,” Michaels said. “Too often, after a fatality, when we inspect, we learn that other workers have already been injured at that establishment.”
For more information, see OSHA’s direct guidance on the recordkeeping standard.
Read more: OSHA’s Top 10 Violations: What They Cost in 2021
Handling COVID-19 Cases
Not only did the start of the COVID-19 pandemic force employers to take wide-ranging steps to prevent the spread of the disease among their workforces, it also left many grappling with whether the illness was work-related and, consequently, recordable (or reportable) under OSHA’s recordkeeping standards.
With the advent of vaccines, boosters and new treatments, OSHA has updated its website to clarify its requirements on reporting the disease.
Read More: OSHA Seeks More Details on High-Risk Workplace Injuries
Businesses must report COVID-19 deaths if they occur within 30 days of a work-related exposure, OSHA says. The report must be made within eight hours of learning that the worker has died from a confirmed, work-related case of COVID-19. Inpatient hospitalizations meeting the same standard must be reported within 24 hours.
How to Use OSHA Form 301, Form 300 and Form 300A
Reports and logs are key elements of the OSHA recordkeeping rules. A business must maintain on-site incident reports and logs of all recordable incidents for at least five years. While that information doesn’t have to be submitted to OSHA, managers must be able to provide it if requested or during on-site inspections.
Inspectors typically review logs when they visit a facility. OSHA also requires businesses to fill out and keep on-site three types of forms for documenting recordable incidents.
- Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report
This is the form that businesses must fill out to document each recordable incident within seven days of learning of it. It includes the most detail about who was harmed and how. - Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
This form is a running log capturing all of a business’s recordable incidents in a calendar year, encapsulating pertinent details from each incident documented in a Form 301. It can help the safety team identify and address areas of concern in order to make improvements. - Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
This form is a “dashboard” report of a facility’s recordable incidents for a year by number of cases, days of lost work and incident type. OSHA requires that businesses display it from February through April each year. This data is used to calculate the recordable incident rate.
OSHA requires that businesses allow workers to request and review Forms 300 and 300A in their entirety and be given access to much of Form 301, too, as specified in 29 CFR Part 1904.35.
Failure to maintain the records can lead to a $7,000 fine from OSHA.
What Are OSHA Recordable Events?
OSHA has explicitly outlined the kinds of incidents safety managers need to manage and document:
- Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer or chronic irreversible disease.
- Any work-related injury resulting in punctured eardrums or fractured/cracked bones or teeth.
- Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job.
- Any work-related fatality.
There are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving needlesticks, sharps injuries, medical removal, hearing loss and tuberculosis.
It’s crucial to note that not every incident is recordable. Generally speaking, recordable incidents involve events or exposures in the work environment that either caused or contributed to the resulting condition during work hours. If not, the case is not recordable.
If you’re ever in doubt about whether you must log an incident, OSHA recommends that you contact the agency and ask. That’s the easiest way to avoid a compliance issue.
Read more: Machine Safety: Here’s Why You Should Be Taking It Seriously
What Is the Total Recordable Incident Rate?
Beyond the incident reports required after an injury, illness or fatality—and the ongoing log of them—OSHA inspectors (and many others) use recordable incident data to determine the total recordable incident rate (TRIR) for a facility.
The TRIR is a percentage rate of recordable incidents per 100 employees. To calculate your TRIR, you multiply the number of recordable incidents by 200,000, then divide by the total number of hours worked in a year by your employees.
OSHA uses the 200,000 number because it represents the hours 100 employees would work in a year, or 100 employees times 40 hours a week times 50 weeks a year.
To help figure out your TRIR, use our helpful, interactive calculator for TCR (Total Case Rate) and DART.
The lower the number, the better your safety record. And TRIR is important because it’s used in many different ways that can affect a business’s bottom line, according to a Slice Products blog post.
Read more: Confined Space Safety: What’s the Correct PPE, Equipment for Working in Hazardous Locations?
OSHA uses the TRIR to monitor your business’s progress on improving its safety record; investors weigh it when evaluating your business for funding; insurers look at it when setting rates; buyers inquire about it when selecting suppliers; and would-be workers check it out when applying for jobs and evaluating safety culture.
Given how much rides on this number, it’s worth paying close attention to it. Not keeping your TRIR low can cost you money, damage your reputation, hurt your ability to hire and keep high-quality workers, and lead to lost time dealing with annoying paperwork.
In the video below, MSC safety consultants discuss how to create a safer workplace. To request a safety consultation, click here.
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If you have one employee hit another employee in the mouth and required stitches, will this be considered a recordable accident that would need to be listed on the 300 log? Employee was not admitted in the hospital or lost time from work.
165That would be a recordable incident. Recordable incident include any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
148If you have an employee that got a puncutured wound when he was drilling and punctured his left hand. No hospital visit applied and was taken care of with First Aid. Will this be something that we will need to log in the Ohsa form? Employee contiunue working with no problem afterwards.
150If an employee is a member of the general public and not an employee and dies at the workplace ( staying as a guest at the hotel) is it reportable?
1501904.31(a)
Basic requirement. You must record on the OSHA 300 Log the recordable injuries and illnesses of all employees on your payroll, whether they are labor, executive, hourly, salary, part-time, seasonal, or migrant workers. You also must record the recordable injuries and illnesses that occur to employees who are not on your payroll if you supervise these employees on a day-to-day basis. If your business is organized as a sole proprietorship or partnership, the owner or partners are not considered employees for recordkeeping purposes.
Here is a link for more information: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.31
149An employee has a job related injury but does not seek medical attention until 2 days after the incident and consequently is hospitalized and treated for in patient care. Is this injury reportable
144Yes, it is a reportable injury due to it being work-related and resulting in an inpatient hospitalization. That the employee did not seek medical attention immediately does not relieve the employer of OSHA's record-keeping requirements once medical treatment beyond first aid is provided.
Here are some links for more information:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9638&p_table=STANDARDS
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2007-02-06-1
148I know it would be recordable but would it also be reportable - What about OSHA 1904.39(b)(6)? and what if the employee waited one month after the work related incident and was hopsitalized?
161David, you make a good point, 1904.39(b)(6) gives a 24 hour timeframe following the incident in which the in-patient hospitalization would be reportable. However, if the employee did not report the incident immediately, the clock would not start until the employer was made aware of the incident which could mean that the hospitalization is reportable. I suggest that you discuss with your legal counsel to be certain that the correct action is taken as there are potential consequences for both underreporting and overreporting.
1904.39(b)(6)
What if the fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye does not occur during or right after the work-related incident? You must only report a fatality to OSHA if the fatality occurs within thirty (30) days of the work-related incident. For an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye, you must only report the event to OSHA if it occurs within twenty-four (24) hours of the work-related incident. However, the fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye must be recorded on your OSHA injury and illness records, if you are required to keep such records.
155Would like to know if a muscle strain reported by an employee - he pulled a muscle in his back while using the washroom for personal need (Toilet) while at work.
is this considered a work related injury as per OSHA?
147According to 29 CFR 1904.5, an injury is work-related if it occurs in the work environment. The work environment is “the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment.”
As long as the injury occurred during the employee’s assigned working hours, including lunch or breaks, the injury is considered work-related.
Here is a link to CFR 1904.5 and a link to a letter of interpretation that addresses a scenario similar to yours.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904.5
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2010-02-16
161An employee had weld flash burn to the eyes. The employee went to the emergency room during the shift on a Thursday did not return to work that day. They also did not return to work on the follwoing Friday. They did return to work the following Monday. Is this recorded as an OSHA recordable injury and a lost time injury? Can it be both?
153If the employee did not return to work at the direction of a physician or licensed health care provider then it would be a recordable injury with days away from work. The number of days would be based on the physician's direction and you may have to include the weekend.
154Hi Can you give some examples for incidents that are recordable but not reportable.?
148Some examples of injuries that are recordable but not reportable are
OSHA provides additional guidance on this subject here: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/
143An employee has a job related injuryand reported the same day, first aid was administered. Then sought medical attention 34 days after the incident and consequently is hospitalized and treated for in patient care. Is this injury reportable
156Hello Jack. Thank you for your question.
Because the employee reported the incident right away 1904.39(b)(6) is clear on this: You must only report an in-patient hospitalization if it occurs within twenty-four (24) hours of the work-related incident. However, it must be recorded on your OSHA injury and illness records, if you are required to keep such records.
154If an employee gets a scratch and needs one bandaid, is that recordable?
156An employee fell on the ice, hit his head, taken by ambulance to the hospital, doctor said to take the next day off. No restrictions (other than day off). No meds. Is this a recordable?
142Hello, is it a recordable if the employee receives prescription medication? Or is it certain mlg that it becomes a recordable?
140Hi, if an incident happened during breaktime hours, is it recordable?
152Can you give me sample's of what is not reportable to Ohsa.
144If an employee is in a crosswalk and hit by a car that ran a stop sign, is it recordable? The employee in question was on the clock at the time of the incident. He was not seriously injured but did have 2 missed work days for doctor's visits to confirm there were no serious injuries.
157Question no one can answer. Man kneels down on a pebble and his knee hurts like hell and swells up. That was on a Friday. Monday he was ok Tuesday he wants to go to the doctor. Doctor does an xray and small exporitory insission. Closed it with a butterfly bandage. Gave him a scrip for Ibprofin because of the insision. You tell me was there an injury in the first place? If there is no injury is it a recorable? Answer correctly because I am useing your expertice to write my report.
151Script not scrip, incision not insission, Ibuprofin, recordable not recorable, expertise not expertice, exsploratory not exporitory, using not useing...
As a safety professional. Proper report writing is paramount. Utilizing proper grammar would be where I start.
Also, there are a few major details you left out.
1.Did this event occur at work?
2. Ibuprofin is given for pain not incisions. Pain due to the incision or original injury.
3. The initial injury was in fact an injury in the first place. Which resulted in a DART.
This was in fact easily answered.
159Where to start? You can't even come close to a safety professional. You said this was easily answered. LOL you didn't answer it. I guess it was easy LOL. A Pro would not use the entire question to belittle someone. Everyone put your hands together for this very young person who can spell. You knew what I said but used the opportunity to criticize a me. Yea your a pro. You also asked it it happened at work. That was your first most important question. Another tell tell sign your not a pro. I wouldn't even waist my time with this if it had happened on vacation MR. low IQ. Your second question was Ibuprofen is given for pain. Wrong again it is given for swelling. It was swelling that caused the pain. And if you didn't have all the facts why did you answer the third question saying it was a DART? So there we are. This is what happens people when you let kids in the room. They truly thing they have all the answers. I sure wish I had time to read all these questions. Grow up get a job and keep yourself busy. In a business where people do not get awards and trophies my room is filled with them from being the best. Normally I use so many curse words but now I know they are kids in the room I will refrain. Ok we have come to the end and now I will let everyone know the very best part and the reason I wrote this. You might not want to throw rocks and live in a glass house. That means do not criticize me for spelling when in the same paragraph you misspelled a word. You do that to get a laugh or show off not teach. So let me be the first to tell you how to spell Ibuprofen is how you spell it dick head. Everyone is now laughing at Sorry Cotten LOL
151Ummmm. it is Cotton. Not Cotten.
When asking in regards to a safety question. You need to clarify if the accident happened at work. No assumptions should be made.
Nice, eloquent and professional response though Mr. Miller.
160What is the outcome if an employer accuses an employee of damaging a wall with forklift with zero witnesses subjects him to a blood drawn drug test and reports it to osha?
141Hi Olivia, Was the employee injured or did this lead to an incident? If there was an incident it does need to be reported to OSHA.
141If your incidents are at zero (0) would the dart rate be zero? Please advise
145An employee fell and hit her ribs on one of our machines she was sent to the er to get checked because she was in pain is that a recordable?
142Hi Sylvia - Yes, that's an example of a recordable incident.
150An employee doesn't feel well and is taken by ambulance due to a medical condition (not work related) is this reportable ?
150Hi Cindy,
According to the general guidelines, if the worker was on the job and taken to the hospital for a condition, it should be reported. If you're ever in doubt, you should contact OSHA directly to explain the circumstances of the incident.
147An employee was hit in the mouth by a gate that was popped off of a part. She did in fact go to the hospital to get checked out. She had Dermabond applied to her lip. Since it was just liquid band aid, does this qualify as a recordable
141Hi Stacey, Thanks for your question. A good rule of thumb to go by is to contact OSHA if you're unclear on the rules. In this case, the employee did seek medical attention at a hospital, which should be reported. Thankfully her injury wasn't worse.
154Feel free send safety information to me.
Thanks
150An employee trips and falls at work on a night shift. He requests to see a doctor. The nearest ER is the only option at this time of night. The ER tells the employee that he just has a bruised hip but writes a note giving him two days off. We offer modified duty that accommodates most cases, especially those diagnosed with bruise(s). We try to contact the employee and are not able to get him to respond until the next day. When he selects a panel physician and goes for treatment, the panel physician writes that he can go to work with modified duty. My understanding is that this would obviously be an OSHA recordable, but not a Lost-time incident since the panel physician did not give time off. Correct?
155If we have an OSHA Recordable injury, at our site, and the employee whom was injured is a contractor who was being supervised by the contractor company's supervisor. So, the host company does not have daily supervision over the contract employee. Plus the Contractor agrees to record the injury on their OSHA 300 and 301-A log does the Host company have to carry that injury in their TRIR calculation, as long as they record the injury for internal tracking and trending purposes?
147Working in a boatyard, pulling a boat out of the water using straps and boat falls because strap broke. No one was injured. Strap was worn and ripping but never checked or inspected prior to using, and could have been extremely fatal .. is this recordable or reportable?
109An employee smells fumes at work, leaves work and goes to a clinic where he asks to run blood tests, which is done. He misses no work, nor has any restrictions and returns to his next scheduled work day. Is this considered a recordable/
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