Breaking Down the OSHA 300A Form

If you’ve been in business for a minute, you know that there are many forms and other paperwork that need to be completed to stay in compliance with a variety of entities. One of those entities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), requires specific things to be posted in order to stay compliant. 

One such form is OSHA’s Form 300A. In this article, we will walk you step by step through filling out this form so that you are always in compliance.   

What is OSHA’s Form 300A?

Separate from the 300 form, Form 300A is a detailed list of all work-related injuries or illnesses that occurred in the workplace over the course of a calendar year. This form needs to include not just the injury or illness but also the extent and severity of each occurrence. 

Injuries or illnesses you record are any that result in:

• Death
• Unconsciousness
• Missed workdays
• Restricted work activity
• Medical treatment beyond basic first aid
• Any work-related case involving cancer, chronic irreversible disease, a fractured or cracked bone, or a punctured eardrum

While this form does not need to be turned into OSHA unless specifically requested, all employers are required to post the form to inform workers. This form needs to be posted in the same place all other required postings are hung no later than February 1. It must remain posted until April 30. If you are a workplace with multiple sites, separate forms must be completed and posted at each site. 

Completing the 300A Form

Filling out this form can be a little daunting if you’ve never filled one out before. To ensure you have all of the required information recorded and accurate, follow these steps:

1. Complete OSHA’s 300 form first. Once this is complete, you’ll have all you need to fill out the additional 300A.
2. Look at columns G-J on your 300 form. Add all of the recorded cases from those columns. Enter the total for each type of recordable case on Form 300A. If there weren’t any, enter “0.”
3. Look at Column K on Form 300 and add up the total number of days workers spent away from work. Next, go to Column L and find the total days of transfer or restriction. Enter these totals on Form 300A under “Number of Days.” If no days were missed, transferred, or restricted, enter “0.”
4. Look at Column M on Form 300. Add the number of cases for each injury or illness type and enter that total into the “Injury and Illness Types” section of Form 300A. If you didn’t have any injuries or illnesses, enter “0.”
5. Complete the Establishment Information section with your business’s name, address, and industry description. If you have access to the information, also include your business’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) or North American Industrial Classification (NAICS).

Next Steps

When all sections for Form 300A are completed, it should be posted. If you have 20 or more employees and you are subject to OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, you must also electronically submit Form 300A by March 2. Unless you fall into that category, you only need to post and not submit. 

When the new year rolls around and you’re preparing a new Form 300A, remember you must keep the previous years in your records for five years. 

Looking for more help filling out required forms or tackling any HR tasks? Look no further than Complete Payroll’s blog for all the help you need. Visit us today for hundreds of HR and payroll-related articles that can help clear up any questions you may have!