A work-related injury occurs on your job site on Monday, but the employee doesn't report it until Friday. When must this injury be recorded on the OSHA 300 log?
Correct Answer
B) Within 7 calendar days of when it was reported (Friday)
OSHA requires injuries and illnesses to be recorded within 7 calendar days of when the employer learns of the work-related injury or illness, not when it occurred.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
OSHA 29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3) specifically states that employers must record work-related injuries and illnesses within 7 calendar days of when they learn about or become aware of the incident. The key phrase is 'when the employer learns of' the injury, not when it actually occurred. Since the employer didn't know about the injury until Friday when it was reported, the 7-day recording period begins on Friday. This protects employers from being penalized for delays in employee reporting while still ensuring timely documentation once they become aware.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Within 7 calendar days of when the injury occurred (Monday)
This is incorrect because OSHA does not require recording based on when the injury occurred if the employer was unaware of it. The regulation specifically ties the recording deadline to when the employer gains knowledge of the incident, not the incident date itself.
Option C: Within 24 hours of when it was reported
While OSHA does have 24-hour reporting requirements, these apply only to fatalities and severe injuries requiring hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye under 29 CFR 1904.39. Regular recordable injuries follow the 7-day rule for logging on Form 300.
Option D: By the end of the calendar year
This timeframe is far too long and would violate OSHA recordkeeping requirements. Annual reporting is only relevant for submitting summary data, not for individual injury logging on the OSHA 300 form.
Memory Technique
Think 'Learn it, Log it in 7' - once you LEARN about an injury, you have 7 days to LOG it on the OSHA 300 form.
Reference Hint
29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3) - OSHA Recordkeeping Standard, specifically the section on recording timeframes
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