OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301 are key documents for keeping tabs on work-related injuries and sicknesses. Form 300 is for logging injuries and sicknesses that need to be recorded. Form 301 gives the details of each incident. Form 300A is a year-end summary that needs to be posted for employees to see.
They work together to support compliance, cleaner safety audits, and stronger risk assessment by showing what happened, when and where it happened, who was involved (with privacy rules), and how serious the outcome was.
This guide explains what each form captures, when to complete it (including the 7-day recording window and the 300A posting dates), and how to use the data to find trends and prevent repeat incidents, using OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 as the baseline.
Understanding OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301
These three documents form the backbone of an injury tracking system. The 300 acts as the daily log, the 301 as the incident investigator, and the 300A as the annual report card.
The OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 are required not just to satisfy an inspector, but to actually see where a safety program is leaking. Without them, identifying patterns such as back injuries in the warehouse is impossible until it’s too late.
OSHA Form 300: The Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
The OSHA Form 300 serves as the running list of "what went wrong." It records specific details about every recordable work-related injury or illness.
- The 7-Day Rule (How soon the information needs recording): Each recordable case must be entered on the Log within seven calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred.
- Classifying Severity: Cases must be categorized by the most serious outcome: death, days away from work, restricted work activity, or medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Privacy Matters: Employee names are generally listed, but for "privacy concern cases" (like needle sticks or mental illness), "privacy case" is entered instead of the name to protect confidentiality.
OSHA Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report
If the Form 300 is the headline, the OSHA Form 301 is the full story. For every single entry on the 300 Log, a corresponding 301 form (or an equivalent workers' comp form) is required to dig into the details.
- The Narrative (What happened): This form asks: What was the employee doing just before the incident? What happened? What was the injury or illness?.
- Root Cause Clues (Why it happened): It captures the time the employee began work and the time of the event. This is crucial data for spotting fatigue-related accidents.
- Access (Limited): Because this form contains sensitive medical information and personal details, access is more restricted than the Form 300 Log.
OSHA Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
The OSHA Form 300A functions as the annual scorecard. It totals up the data from the Form 300 Log to show the number of cases, days away from work, and types of injuries for the year, but without any names.
- Posting Deadline: This summary must be posted in a visible location at the workplace from February 1 to April 30 of the year following the covered year.
- Executive Sign-Off: A company executive must sign this form. This isn't just a formality; it certifies that the executive has examined the records and believes them to be accurate.
- Fill up even with zero cases: Even if no injuries occurred for the year, the Form 300A must still be completed and posted with zeros.
Determining "Work-Relatedness"
This is the trickiest part. An injury is work-related if an event in the work environment caused it or made an existing condition worse (significant aggravation). But not every injury that happens at work needs to be recorded.
First Aid vs. Medical Treatment
Giving a worker an aspirin and a band-aid is first aid (not recordable). If a doctor prescribes prescription-strength medication or stitches a wound, that’s medical treatment (recordable).
The "Significant Aggravation" Rule
If a worker has a pre-existing back condition and a work event significantly worsens it, that case is recordable.
Spotting Hidden Hazards
When injuries are tracked accurately, patterns emerge.
The OSHA 300 Log might show that three different employees slipped in the same hallway this month. That’s not a coincidence; that’s a hazard that needs fixing.
By calculating the incidence rate and DART rate (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred), safety performance can be benchmarked against industry peers.
Final Thoughts
Filling out OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 isn't just about avoiding a citation. It’s about building a data set that proves a safety program works, or shows exactly where it’s failing.
Review logs quarterly to see if corrective actions are actually working. Remember to meet OSHA 300 log retention requirements by keeping these records for five years. This long-term data is crucial for tracking safety improvements.
Finally, keep in mind that many employers must now support the electronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA, making data accuracy even more critical for regulatory visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OSHA Form 300 and 300A?
Form 300 is a detailed log of individual injuries with employee names, while Form 300A is an annual summary of those totals without names, used for posting in the workplace.
Is every minor cut or scratch reported on OSHA forms?
No, only cases involving medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work, or restricted duty are recorded. Simple first aid like applying a bandage is not recordable.
How long must OSHA 300 logs be kept?
The OSHA 300 Log, Form 300A, and Form 301 Incident Reports must be retained for five years following the year they cover.
Are all industries required to maintain OSHA injury and illness records?
No, employers with 10 or fewer employees and those in specific low-hazard retail, service, and finance industries are exempt from keeping these records unless asked by OSHA.
When is the deadline for posting the OSHA 300A form?
The OSHA Form 300A summary must be posted in a visible place for employees to see from February 1 to April 30 each year.
Zarif Ahmed
An engineer and safety writer by profession, focusing on chemical management, regulatory development, and the patterns that shape workplace practice over time.