What it means
The OSHA 300 Log is a running list of the recordable work-related injuries and illnesses at an establishment. Each case gets a line with who was hurt, what happened, and how serious it was.
It sits inside the recordkeeping rule, OSHA 29 CFR 1904. The employer keeps it. Details for each case go on a companion incident report form, usually called the 301.
Not every employer has to keep one, and some can be partially exempt by size or industry. Check the current OSHA rules for who's required, how long to keep the log, and what has to be shared with employees.
Why it matters
The log is the source for TRIR and DART. It's also what an OSHA inspector asks to see. If it's missing cases or has the wrong dates, every rate built on it is wrong.
What it looks like on a site
- The safety lead decides whether each new case is recordable, then adds a line the same week.
- The line is filled from the incident report, with the date, the job, the body part and the days.
- Cases that stay open, like days away that keep adding up, are updated when the count changes.
- At year end, the totals feed the annual summary and the rate calculations.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary