OSHA Compliance Insights
Expert advice, compliance guides, and recordkeeping tips to help you maintain a safer workplace and avoid costly penalties.
Workers' Comp Denied but OSHA Recordable? Why the Two Systems Don't Match
A workers' comp denial doesn't determine OSHA recordability. A workers' comp acceptance doesn't make a case recordable. The two systems have different tests, different timelines, and different outcomes — and confusing them is one of the most common citation generators OSHA finds at small employers.
Sharps Injuries and Bloodborne Pathogens: The Two Separate Logs OSHA Requires
A single contaminated needlestick can create entries on two different OSHA logs — the 300 Log under 29 CFR 1904.8 and the separate Sharps Injury Log under 29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(5). Here's how the rules fit together, who's covered, and where employers most often get it wrong.
Recording Hearing Loss on the OSHA 300 Log: The 25 dB STS Rule, Explained
Hearing loss is the one injury type with its own special recording rule. Two thresholds have to be met, age adjustment applies to one but not the other, and there's a 30-day retest window most employers don't use. Here's the rule in plain English.
Is Heat Illness OSHA Recordable? How to Log Heat Cases Under the 2026 Heat NEP
OSHA's updated Heat National Emphasis Program now tells inspectors to pull your 300 Log first. Here's when a heat case becomes recordable, which column it goes in, and what the single most common heat-recording mistake is.
Do You Need to Keep an OSHA 300 Log? Recordkeeping Exemptions for Small Employers
Not every employer has to keep an OSHA 300 log. Two exemption rules — one based on company size, one based on industry — determine whether routine recordkeeping applies to you. Here's how to find out.
Is This Injury OSHA Recordable? The Decision Tree Every Safety Manager Needs
Recordability comes down to three questions asked in sequence: did an injury or illness occur, is it work-related, and does it meet a recording trigger? This guide walks through each step with real-world examples and the exemptions most employers miss.
First Aid vs. Medical Treatment: The Line That Decides Recordability
The difference between a recordable incident and a non-recordable one often comes down to a single question: was the treatment first aid, or something more? OSHA's answer is more specific than you think.