SHS Documentation & Record Keeping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA's recordkeeping rule, which of the following is classified as a 'restricted work case' requiring entry on the OSHA 300 Log?
- An employee receives only first aid treatment
- An employee is assigned to a modified duty position limiting normal job functions (Correct answer)
- An employee is sent home to rest for the remainder of the shift
- An employee visits the company nurse but returns to full duty
Correct answer: An employee is assigned to a modified duty position limiting normal job functions
A restricted work case occurs when an employee cannot perform one or more routine job functions due to a work-related injury or illness, requiring OSHA 300 Log entry.
Question 2: What is the required retention period for OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms under 29 CFR 1904?
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 7 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
Employers must retain the OSHA 300 Log, 300A Summary, and 301 Incident Report forms for five years following the end of the calendar year they cover.
Question 3: A safety specialist discovers an incident that was not recorded on the OSHA 300 Log within the required 7-day timeframe. What is the appropriate corrective action?
- Discard the incident since it is past the deadline
- Record the incident immediately and note the late entry date (Correct answer)
- File an amended 300A Summary only
- Notify OSHA before recording the incident
Correct answer: Record the incident immediately and note the late entry date
Late entries should still be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log as soon as discovered; the late recording does not negate the obligation to document the incident.
Question 4: Which section of OSHA Form 301 captures the employee's description of the incident in their own words?
- Section 1 – Employer information
- Section 2 – Employee information
- Section 3 – Case information (Correct answer)
- Section 4 – Physician or health care professional information
Correct answer: Section 3 – Case information
Section 3 of OSHA Form 301 records the case details, including what the employee was doing and how the injury or illness occurred, often in the employee's own words.
Question 5: When must employers post the OSHA 300A Annual Summary in the workplace?
- January 1 through March 31
- February 1 through April 30 (Correct answer)
- March 1 through May 31
- April 1 through June 30
Correct answer: February 1 through April 30
The OSHA 300A Summary must be posted in a visible workplace location from February 1 through April 30 of the year following the recorded calendar year.
Question 6: A chemical exposure illness develops gradually over several months. On what date should the employer record this illness on the OSHA 300 Log?
- The date the exposure first began
- The date the employee first reported symptoms to a supervisor
- The date the illness is diagnosed by a physician
- The date the employer first learns of the work-related illness (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The date the employer first learns of the work-related illness
For occupational illnesses that develop over time, the recording date is when the employer is first informed or learns of the diagnosis or existence of the condition.
Question 7: Which employer is exempt from routine OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements based on industry classification?
- A 25-employee construction contractor
- A 12-employee retail florist shop (Correct answer)
- A 50-employee auto parts manufacturer
- A 30-employee roofing company
Correct answer: A 12-employee retail florist shop
Employers in low-hazard industries (such as retail florists) with 10 or fewer employees are partially exempt, but establishments with 11+ employees in high-hazard industries must keep records; however low-hazard SIC codes like retail florists remain exempt regardless of size up to certain thresholds.
SHS Documentation & Record Keeping 2
Under OSHA's recordkeeping rule, which of the following is classified as a 'restricted work case' requiring entry on the OSHA 300 Log?