A one-page checklist for HR and safety teams covering the 300 Log, 301 reports, 300A posting, electronic submission and record retention.
Recordkeeping errors usually come from forgotten steps, not bad intentions. This checklist walks through your whole year, so nothing slips.
What’s inside:
- A yes/no check for whether you must keep OSHA records
- What to do within 7 days of every recordable case
- Year-end steps for completing and certifying the 300A
- Posting and electronic submission dates
- How long to keep records, who can see them, and when to call OSHA
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Part B: Checklist content (for the PDF)
OSHA Recordkeeping Checklist
Prepared by HRCPE. Companion to the webinar: OSHA 300 Logs: Reporting & Recordkeeping Requirements for 2026.
1. Do you need to keep OSHA records?
☐ Did the establishment have more than 10 employees at any time during the year?
☐ Is your industry on OSHA’s partially exempt list? (If yes, you may not need routine records, but you still must report severe injuries.)
☐ Are you tracking each establishment (physical location) separately?
2. For every injury or illness
☐ Decide if it is work-related (check OSHA’s exceptions)
☐ Decide if it is a new case
☐ Check the criteria: death, days away, restricted work or transfer, loss of consciousness, medical treatment beyond first aid, significant diagnosis
☐ Enter it on the 300 Log within 7 calendar days
☐ Complete the 301 report (or an equivalent form) within 7 calendar days
☐ Record privacy cases as “privacy case” and keep a confidential list of names
☐ Count days away and restricted days (calendar days, capped at 180)
☐ Update the log when a case changes
3. Year-end review (January)
☐ Review each log entry for accuracy and classification
☐ Confirm days away and restricted-day totals
☐ Total each column on the 300 Log
☐ Calculate the annual average number of employees
☐ Calculate total hours worked by all employees
☐ Complete the 300A (even if there were no cases)
☐ Have a company executive certify the 300A
4. Post and submit
☐ Post the 300A where employees can see it from February 1 to April 30
☐ Check whether you must submit electronically (use OSHA’s ITA coverage tool)
☐ Gather your legal company name and establishment details
☐ Submit through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application by March 2
☐ If required, submit Form 300 and 301 case data after the 300A (Appendix B industries, 100+ employees)
5. Keep and share records
☐ Keep the 300 Log, 301 reports and 300A for 5 years after the end of the calendar year
☐ Give employees, former employees and their representatives access to the 300 Log when they ask (by the end of the next business day)
☐ Give the injured employee or representative a copy of their 301 when requested
☐ Give OSHA copies within four business hours when requested during an inspection
6. Report severe incidents to OSHA
☐ Fatality: report within 8 hours
☐ In-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye: report within 24 hours
☐ Know how to report: call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), call your nearest area office, or use OSHA’s online form
7. Build the habit
☐ Name one recordkeeping owner and a backup
☐ Review open cases monthly
☐ Train supervisors to report injuries right away
☐ Audit your log before year-end
| Join the webinar
This checklist tells you what to do. Our webinar shows you how, with examples and time for your questions. Register for “OSHA 300 Logs: Reporting & Recordkeeping Requirements for 2026”. |
Related reading: OSHA 300 vs 300A vs 301 • Who Must Submit OSHA Injury Data Electronically in 2026?
This article is general information, not legal advice. OSHA updates its rules and industry lists from time to time, so confirm current requirements at osha.gov before you act.