It’s Time to Post Your Cal/OSHA Log

Every year we faithfully remind you that February is the month to begin posting your company’s Summary of Work Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A); this document is a summary of the workplace injury and illness data compiled from the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300) that was completed for the prior year (2015).  The Summary must be posted in a conspicuous place (i.e., where similar types of notices are customarily posted for employees) beginning February 1 through April 30.  Remember, you must post the summary only, not the log.  The Summary must be completed and posted even if no work-related injuries or illnesses occurred in 2015.

Employers with more than ten employees and whose establishments are not classified as a partially exempt industry must record work-related injuries and illnesses using Cal/OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301.  Partially exempt industries include establishments in specific low hazard retail, service, finance, insurance or real estate industries and are listed in 8 CCR §14300.2.  If you have more than one establishment, you must keep a separate Log and Summary for each physical location that is expected to be in operation for one year or longer.  The Summary (Form 300A) requires the following information from the Form 300 Log:

1. Total number of non first-aid occupational injury and illness cases
2. Total number of cases with days away from work and cases with job transfer or restriction and total number of other recordable cases
3. The cumulative total number of days from all injuries or illnesses including days away from work and job transfer restrictions.
4. Number of occupational injury/illness cases including skin disorders, respiratory conditions, poisoning, hearing loss and all other illnesses.

Remember a simple Cal/OSHA definition for “first aid” is any one-time treatment, and any follow-up visit for the purpose of observation of minor scratches, cuts, burns, splinters, or other minor industrial injury, which do not ordinarily require medical care.  This one-time treatment, and follow-up visit for the purpose of observation, is considered first aid even though provided by a physician or other registered healthcare professional personnel and regardless of whether it was reported to your worker compensation carrier.

Recordkeeping instructions, the required forms and a more detailed explanation of first-aid can be accessed through the Department of Industrial Relations website at www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/puborder.asp.  Should you have any questions on the posting or recording of injuries and illness, The Cohen Group would be happy to assist you.