Is This OSHA Recordable?
Answer a few guided questions to get a clear recordable / not-recordable determination under 29 CFR 1904 — free, no account required.
1Is the injury or illness work-related?
Select the option that best describes what happened.
How OSHA recordability decisions actually work
OSHA recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904) asks two separate questions: is the injury or illness work-related, and if so, does it meet one of OSHA's recording criteria? Both have to be true for a case to go on your OSHA 300 log.
Work-relatedness is broader than most people expect — an event or exposure in the work environment only has to cause, contribute to, or significantly aggravate the condition. But OSHA carves out specific exceptions, like injuries to members of the public, voluntary wellness activities, and ordinary colds or flu.
If it's work-related and new (not a continuation of a case you've already recorded), it's recordable if it caused death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis — plus a short list of special cases like sharps injuries and hearing loss.
Why this determination matters
Your recordable cases feed directly into your TRIR and DART rates — the numbers OSHA uses for inspection targeting, and the numbers your customers check during prequalification. Getting a recordability call wrong in either direction creates real risk: under-recording is a citation waiting to happen, and over-recording inflates your rates unnecessarily.
FAQ
What makes an injury or illness OSHA recordable?
Under 29 CFR 1904.7, a work-related injury or illness is recordable if it results in death, days away from work, restricted work activity or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant injury/illness (like a fracture or cancer) diagnosed by a physician or licensed health care professional.
What counts as first aid instead of medical treatment?
OSHA's first aid list (29 CFR 1904.7(b)(5)(ii)) includes things like non-prescription-strength medication, cleaning a wound, bandages, hot/cold therapy, non-rigid support, temporary immobilization for transport, and eye irrigation. Anything beyond that — prescription medication, stitches, rigid immobilization — is medical treatment and makes the case recordable.
Is a near-miss OSHA recordable?
No. OSHA recordkeeping only applies to actual injuries and illnesses. Near-misses aren't recordable, but tracking them is still one of the best ways to catch the pattern before it becomes a recordable case.
What if a case seems minor now but gets worse later?
Recordability is based on what actually happens, not what you expect. If a case you treated as first aid later requires more treatment, causes days away, or otherwise meets a recording criterion, you need to add it to your OSHA 300 log within 7 calendar days of learning that (29 CFR 1904.29).
Are needlestick injuries always recordable?
Yes — under 29 CFR 1904.8, any needlestick or sharps injury contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material is recordable, regardless of whether it only required first aid.
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This tool is for general informational purposes only and does not replace official OSHA recordkeeping or legal requirements. Verify all recordability decisions against 29 CFR 1904 and consult a qualified safety professional. Read our privacy policy.