Top 10 mistakes companies make with OSHA recordkeeping

One of the most persistent sources of problems we see as safety consultants is confusion over how to handle OSHA recordkeeping requirements for accidents and illnesses.

Arthur Sapper, an attorney with McDermott Will & Emery and a leader in OSHA compliance law, has written an excellent and comprehensive article about the top mistakes he sees employers making on their OSHA 300 logs.

At the top of his list: The mistaken belief by employers that if an injured worker can still perform useful work, the injury need not be recorded as a work restriction.

Others:

• Believing that light duty is not a recordable work restriction.
• Failing to give proper weight to the account of an accident provide by the injured employee.
• Misunderstanding the recordability of a non-occupational injury that was aggravated on the job.
• Failing to keep track of days away from work for an injured employee who has stopped reporting for work because he or she is on long-term injury leave.

The full article is well worth reading.