Under Cal OSHA Form 300, when is an employer not required to keep records of work-related injuries or illnesses?

Under Cal OSHA Form 300, when is an employer not required to keep records of work-related injuries or illnesses?

• A. 10 Employees or Less
• B. 20 Employees or Less
• C. Only If Accidents Occur
• D. Always Required

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that recordkeeping requirements are tied to how many people work at the site. In Cal/OSHA practice, if an establishment has ten or fewer employees at all times during the year, you’re not required to keep the Form 300 log (nor the Form 300A summary or Form 301 incident reports). This threshold is meant to ease the burden on very small businesses. If the headcount ever goes above ten, then you must start maintaining those records for that establishment. Remember, the count is per location, so a small shop at one site and a larger operation at another are treated separately. There are some specific exemptions and other reporting rules for certain circumstances, but the general rule is the ten-or-less exemption.

The key idea is that recordkeeping requirements are tied to how many people work at the site. In Cal/OSHA practice, if an establishment has ten or fewer employees at all times during the year, you’re not required to keep the Form 300 log (nor the Form 300A summary or Form 301 incident reports). This threshold is meant to ease the burden on very small businesses. If the headcount ever goes above ten, then you must start maintaining those records for that establishment. Remember, the count is per location, so a small shop at one site and a larger operation at another are treated separately. There are some specific exemptions and other reporting rules for certain circumstances, but the general rule is the ten-or-less exemption.