Now is the time employers must post a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2016. The summary must be posted from February 1 through April 30. Failure to compile and post the summary is a violation of OSHA regulations and subjects the company to potentially significant monetary fines.
To record work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses, most employers must keep a Log of Work-Related Illnesses (Form 300). The Summary (Form 300A) is compiled from the data on the log. A company without any injuries or illnesses is still required to post the Summary. The Summary is only complete when it has been certified by a company executive.
Furthermore, some companies, after written notification, may be required by OSHA to post summaries online. OSHA intends to post accident and injury information on its website and allow the public to view the data. In this way, OSHA hopes public pressure will encourage employers to engage in safer business practices.
Some employers are exempt from the keeping of injury and illness logs and summary. Any business with 10 or fewer employees for all of 2016 are exempt. So are certain, low-hazard businesses, but they too must keep logs if specifically requested by OSHA.
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