6 Simple Steps to OSHA 300/300A Compliance
- A practical guide for small business owners
If you’re a small business owner, OSHA’s injury and illness recordkeeping rules can feel overwhelming. But staying compliant doesn’t have to be complicated. This guide breaks it down into six clear steps—so you know exactly what to do, when to do it, and whether your business is even required to keep these records.
Step 1: Find Out If You’re Exempt
You may be exempt from OSHA recordkeeping if:
- You had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the year, or
- Your business is in a low-risk industry listed in OSHA’s Partially Exempt NAICS Table
How to Check:
- Find your NAICS code (on tax forms or use census.gov/naics)
- Compare it to OSHA’s Exempt Industry List
If your code is listed, you’re not required to keep Forms 300, 300A, or 301—unless OSHA or BLS specifically requests them.
Important: Even if you’re exempt, you must still report:
- Fatalities – within 8 hours
- Hospitalizations, amputations, or eye loss – within 24 hours
Report incidents here
Step 2: Download the OSHA Forms
If you’re not exempt, you’ll need these forms:
- Form 300 – Injury/Illness Log
- Form 301 – Incident Report
- Form 300A – Annual Summary
Create a folder or spreadsheet to keep everything organized.
📝 Step 3: Record Incidents Within 7 Days
When an employee experiences a recordable injury or illness, you must:
- Log it on Form 300
- Complete Form 301 with incident details
Recordable incidents include:
- Death
- Days away from work
- Restricted work or job transfer
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
- Loss of consciousness
- Diagnosed serious conditions (e.g., fractures, punctured eardrums)
📊 Step 4: Complete and Post Form 300A
At the end of the year:
- Fill out Form 300A using your Form 300 log
- Have a company executive sign it
- Post it from February 1 to April 30 in a visible location (breakroom, bulletin board, etc.)
Remote employees? You can share it digitally via email or your company portal.
🌐 Step 5: Submit Electronically (If Required)
OSHA requires certain businesses to submit injury and illness data electronically through its Injury Tracking Application (ITA).
🧠 Here’s how to know if you’re required:
✅ You must submit if:
- You had 100 or more employees at any time during the previous calendar year AND
- Your business is in a high-hazard industry listed in Appendix B to Subpart E of 29 CFR 1904
✅ You must submit Form 300A only if:
- You had 20–249 employees AND
- Your business is in a designated high-risk industry (e.g., manufacturing, construction, warehousing)
❌ You do not need to submit if:
- You had fewer than 20 employees AND
- Your business is not in a high-hazard industry
🔍 Use OSHA’s Coverage Tool:
To check your submission requirement, use OSHA’s ITA Coverage Tool
📅 Submission Deadline:
- March 2nd every year
📌 What You’ll Submit:
- Form 300A (always, if required)
- Form 300 and 301 (only for businesses with 100+ employees in high-hazard industries)
📁 Step 6: Keep Records for 5 Years
Store all completed forms securely for five years. You may need to update them if new information becomes available.
With the right system in place, OSHA recordkeeping becomes just another part of running a safe, steady business—not a source of stress.
Written by Andrew Oestmann Chase
Founder, Simple Safety Institute