The Importance of OSHA 300 Log Accuracy

OSHA 300 logs are recordkeeping forms that employers are required to use to document all reportable injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace. Logs include details such as where and when an incident takes place, the nature of the incident, information on the employee who was injured or made sick, and the number of days away from work or on restricted duty, if any.

Why are OSHA 300 Logs important?

OSHA 300 logs are valuable tools used in evaluating the types, frequency, and severity of workplace injuries and illnesses. The information obtained from OSHA logs can be used to identify previously unknown, unforeseen, or unresolved hazards through patterns in the location and nature of incidents. Employers can then use the data to eliminate or control those hazards and protect their workers.

What happens if OSHA 300 Logs are inaccurate?

Accuracy and timeliness are key when maintaining and completing OSHA 300 logs. Inaccurate or incomplete data on submissions is a red flag to OSHA and may lead to increased scrutiny and undesirable consequences that may have been avoided otherwise.

Loss of Work

Safety records are often used to prequalify companies during the construction job bidding process. It’s common for bidders to provide OSHA 300 log data, usually in the form of Recordable Incident Rate (RIR) or Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR). Companies that are over- or under-reporting injury and illness information can be disqualified from bidding on lucrative jobs, costing hundreds of tens of thousands of dollars in lost opportunities.

Workplace Inspections

Companies in certain “high-risk” industries and have 20 or more employees are required to report their OSHA 300 log data electronically each year. The digitization of this data allows OSHA to more effectively identify workplaces where employees are at greatest risk and target their compliance and enforcement efforts accordingly. Employers who are over-reporting their injuries may unknowingly push their incident rate over the industry standard, leading to an increased risk of inspections.

Fines and Penalties

During an OSHA inspection, one of the first things the inspector will request is a copy of the employer’s OSHA 300 logs. The company has 4 business hours to comply with the request. If discrepancies are uncovered, OSHA may issue a fine of $1,000 per occurrence. A recordkeeping audit consists of not only the current year, but also the past 5 years of logs. If inaccurate data is found in past logs, additional fines can be issued.

Penalties may also arise from failing to complete a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLR) survey request. Each year, about 230,000 establishments across the country are randomly selected to participate. For private employers, participation is mandated by OSHA, even if they’re not normally required to complete OSHA logs. Companies that fail to complete the requirements of a BLS survey are subject to fines.

How can Sheakley help?

We offer OSHA Recordkeeping services that can free you and your company from the headaches of completing your OSHA 300 logs. We’ll ensure that your current and past years’ data is accurately prepared, adequately maintained, and fully compliant so you have peace of mind when OSHA comes knocking.

To gain complete confidence in your OSHA compliance, contact us for a free consultation.

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