Construction Safety and Health
Outreach Program |
U.S. Department of Labor
OSHA Office of Training and Education
May 1996 |
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1904.1 - PURPOSE AND SCOPE |
The regulations in this part implement sections 8(c)(1), (2), 8(g)(2), and 24 (a) and (e) of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970. These sections provide for recordkeeping and reporting by employers covered under the act as
necessary or appropriate for enforcement of the act, for developing information regarding the causes and prevention
of occupation accidents and illnesses, and for maintaining a program of collection, compilation, and analysis of
occupational safety and health statistics. The regulations in this Part were promulgated with the cooperation of the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
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| 1904.2 LOG AND SUMMARY OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ILLNESSES |
(a) Each employer shall, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, (1) maintain in each establishment a
log and summary of all recordable occupational injuries and illnesses for that establishment; and (2) enter each
recordable injury and illness on the log and summary as early as practicable but no later than 6 working days after
receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred. For this purpose form OSHA No. 200 or an
equivalent which is as readable and comprehensible to a person not familiar with it shall be used. The log and
summary shall be completed in the detail provided in the form and instructions on form OSHA No. 200 [42 F.R. 65165.
December 30, 1977]
(b) Any employer may maintain the log of occupational injuries and illnesses at a place other than the establishment
or by means of data-processing equipment, or both, under the following circumstances:
(1) There is available at the place where the log is maintained sufficient information to complete the log to a date
within 6 working days after receiving information that a recordable case has occurred, as required by paragraph (a)
of this section.
(2) At each of the employer's establishments, there is available a copy of the log which reflects separately the
injury and illness experience of that establishment complete and current to a date within 45 calendar days. [36 F.R.
12612, July 2, 1971, as amended at 37 F.R. 736, Jan 18, 1972.]
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| 1904.3 PERIOD COVERED |
Records shall be established on a calendar year basis. [42 F.R. 65165. December 30, 1977]
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| 1904.4 SUPPLEMENTARY RECORD |
In addition to the log of occupational injuries and illnesses provided for under paragraph 1904.2, each employer
shall have available for inspection at each establishment within 6 working days after receiving information that a
recordable case has occurred, a supplementary record for each occupational injury or illness for that establishment.
The record shall be completed in the detail prescribed in the instructions accompanying Occupational Safety and
Health Administration Form OSHA No. 101. Workmen's compensation, insurance, or other reports are acceptable
alternative records if they contain the information required by Form OSHA No. 101. If no acceptable alternative
record is maintained for other purposes, Form OSHA No. 101 shall be used or the necessary information shall be
otherwise maintained.
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| 1904.5 ANNUAL SUMMARY |
(a) Each employer shall post an annual summary of occupational injuries and illnesses for each establishment. This
summary shall consist of a copy of the year's totals from the form OSHA No. 200 and the following information from
that form: calendar year covered, company name, establishment name, establishment address, certification signature,
title, and date. A form OSHA No. 200 shall be used in presenting the summary. If no injuries or illnesses occurred in
the year, zeros must be entered on the totals line, and the form must be posted.
(b) The summary shall be completed by February 1 beginning with calendar year 1979. The summary of 1977
calendar-year's occupational injuries and illnesses shall be posted on form OSHA No. 102.
(c) Each employer, or the officer or employee of the employer who supervises the preparation of the log and summary
of occupational injuries and illnesses, shall certify that the annual summary of occupational injuries and illnesses
is true and complete. The certification shall be accomplished by affixing the signature of the employer, or the
officer or employer who supervises the preparation of the annual summary of occupational injuries and illnesses, at
the bottom of the last page of the log and summary or by appending a separate statement to the log and summary
certifying that the summary is true and complete.
(d) (1) Each employer shall post a copy of the establishment's summary in each establishment in the same manner that
notices are required to be posted under paragraph 1903.2(a)(1) of this chapter. The summary covering the previous
calendar year shall be posted no later than February 1, and shall remain in place until March 1. For employees who do
not primarily report for work at a single establishment, or who do not report to any fixed establishment on a regular
basis, employers shall satisfy this posting requirement by presenting or mailing a copy of the summary portion of the
log and summary during the month of February of the following year to each such employee who receives pay during that
month. For multi-establishment employers where operations have closed down in some establishments during the calendar
year, it will not be necessary to post summaries for those establishments. [42 F.R. 65165, December 30, 1977]
(2) A failure to post a copy of the establishment's annual summary may result in the issuance of citations and
assessment of penalties pursuant to section 9 and 17 of the Act.
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| 1904.6 RETENTION OF RECORDS |
Records provided for in paragraphs 1904.2, 1904.4, and 1904.5 (including form OSHA No. 200 and its predecessor forms
OSHA No. 100 and OSHA No. 102) shall be retained in each establishment for 5 years following the end of the year to
which they relate. [42 F.R. 65166. December 30, 1977]
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| 1904.7 ACCESS TO RECORDS |
(a) Each employer shall provide, upon request, records provided for in paragraphs 1904.2, 1904.4, and 1904.5, for
inspection and copying by any representative of the Secretary of Labor for the purpose of carrying out the provision
of the act, and by representatives of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during any investigation under
section 20(b) of the act, or by any representative of a State accorded jurisdiction for occupation safety and health
inspections or for statistical compilation under sections 18 and 24 of the act.
(b) (1) The log and summary of all recordable occupational injuries and illnesses (OSHA No. 200) (the log) provided
for in paragraph 1904.2 shall, upon request be made available by the employer to any employee, former employee, and
to their representatives for examination and copying in a reasonable manner and at reasonable times. The employee,
former employee, and their representatives shall have access to the log for any establishment in which the employee
is or has been employed.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude employees and employee representatives from collectively
bargaining to obtain access to information relating to occupational injuries and illnesses in addition to the
information made available under this section.
(3) Access to the log provided under this section shall pertain to all logs retained under the requirements of
paragraph 1904.6. [43 F.R. 31329, July 21, 1978]
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1904.8 REPORTING OF FATALITY OR
MULTIPLE HOSPITALIZATION ACCIDENTS |
(a) Within 8 hours after the death of any employee from a work-related incident or the in-patient hospitalization of
three or more employees as a result of a work-related incident, the employer of any employees so affected shall
orally report the fatality/multiple hospitalization by telephone or in person to the Area Office of the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, that is nearest to the site of the incident, or by
using the OSHA toll-free central telephone number.
(b) This requirement applies to each such fatality or hospitalization of three or more employees which occurs within
thirty (30) days of an incident.
(c) Exception: If the employer does not learn of a reportable incident at the time it occurs and the incident would
otherwise be reportable under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the employer shall make the report within 8
hours of the time the incident is reported to any agent or employee of the employer.
(d) Each report required by this section shall relate the following information: Establishment name, location of
incident, time of the incident, number of fatalities or hospitalized employees, contact person, phone number, and a
brief description of the incident. [59 F.R.15600, April 1, 1994]
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| 1904.9 FALSIFICATION, OR FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OR REPORTS |
(a) Section 17(g) of the Act provides that "Whoever knowingly makes any false statement, representation; or
certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant
to this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment, for not more
than 6 months or both."
(b) Failure to maintain records or file reports required by this part, or in the details required by forms and
instructions issued under this part, may result in the issuance of citations and assessment of penalties as provided
for in sections 9, 10, and 17 of the Act. [36 F.R. 12612, July 2, 1971, as amended at 37 F.R. 737, Jan. 18, 1972]
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| 1904.10 RECORDKEEPING UNDER APPROVED STATE PLANS |
Records maintained by an employer and reports submitted pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of an
approved State plan under section 18 of the act shall be regarded as compliance with this Part 1904.
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| 1904.11 CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP |
Where an establishment has changed ownership, the employer shall be responsible for maintaining records and filling
reports only for that period of the year during which he owned such establishment. However, in the case of any change
in ownership, the employer shall preserve those records, if any, of the prior ownership which are required to be kept
under this part. These records shall be retained at each establishment to which they relate, for the period, or
remainder thereof, required under paragraph 1904.6.
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| 1904.12 DEFINITIONS |
(a) "Act" means the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [84 Stat. 1590 et seq., 29
U.S.C. 651 ET SEQ.].
(b) The definitions and interpretations contained in section (2) of the Act shall be applicable to such terms when
used in this Part 1904.
(c) "Recordable occupational injuries or illnesses" are any occupational injuries or illnesses which result
in:
(1) Fatalities, regardless of the time between the injury and death, or the length of the illness; or
(2) Lost workday cases, other than fatalities, that result in lost workdays; or
(3) Nonfatal cases without lost workdays which result in transfer to another job or termination of employment, or
require medical treatment (other than first aid) or involve: loss of consciousness or restriction of work or motion.
This category also includes any diagnosed occupational illnesses which are reported to the employer but are not
classified as fatalities or lost workday cases.
(d) "Medical treatment" includes treatment administered by a physician or by registered professional
personnel under the standing orders of a physician. Medical treatment does not include first aid treatment even
through provided by a physician or registered professional personnel.
(e) "First aid" is any one-time treatment, and any followup visit for the purpose of observation, of minor
scratches, cuts, burns, splinters, and so forth, which do not ordinarily require medical care. Such one-time
treatment, and followup visit for the purpose of observation, is considered first aid even though provided by a
physician or registered professional personnel.
(f) "Lost workdays:" The number of days (consecutive or not) after, but not including, the day of injury or
illness during which the employee would have worked but could not do so; that is, could not perform all or any part
of his normal assignment during all or any part of the workday or shift, because of the occupational injury or
illness.
(g)(1) "Establishment:" A single physical location where business is conducted or where services or
industrial operations are performed. (For example: a factory, mill, store, hotel, restaurant, movie theater, farm,
ranch, bank, sales office, warehouse, or central administrative office.) Where distinctly separate activities are
performed at a single physical location (such as contract construction activities operated from the same physical
locations a lumber yard), each activity shall be treated as a separate establishment.
(2) For firms engaged in activities such as agriculture, construction, transportation, communications, and electric,
gas and sanitary services, which may be physically dispersed, records may be maintained at a place to which employees
report each day.
(3) Records for personnel who do not primarily report or work at a single establishment, and who are generally not
supervised in their daily work, such as traveling salesmen, technicians, engineers, etc., shall be maintained at the
location from which they are paid or the base from which personnel operate to carry out their activities. [36 F.R.
12612, July 2, 1971, as amended at 37 F.R. 20822, Oct 4, 1972]
(h) Establishments Classified in Standard Industrial Classification Codes (SIC) 52-89.
(1) Establishments whose primary activity constitutes retail trade; finance, insurance, real estate and services are
classified in SIC's 52-89.
(2) Retail trades are classified as SIC's 52-59 and for the most part include establishments engaged in selling
merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption. Some of the retail trades are: automotive
dealers, apparel and accessory stores, furniture and home furnishing stores, and eating and drinking places.
(3) Finance, insurance and real estate are classified as SIC's 60-67 and include establishments which are engaged in
banking, credit other than banking, security dealings, insurance, and real estate.
(4) Services are classified as SIC's 70-89 and include establishments which provide a variety of services for
individuals, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. Some of the service industries are: personal
and business services, in addition to legal, education, social, and cultural; and membership organizations.
(5) The primary activity of an establishment is determined as follows: For finance, insurance, real estate, and
services establishments, the value of receipts or revenue for services rendered by an establishment determines its
primary activity. In establishments with diversified activities, the activities determined to account for the largest
share of production, sales or revenue will identify the primary activity. In some instances these criteria will not
adequately represent the relative economic importance of each of the varied activities. In such cases, employment or
payroll should be used in place of the normal basis for determining the primary activity. [47 F.R. 57702, December
28, 1982]
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1904.13 PETITIONS FOR RECORDKEEPING
EXCEPTIONS |
(a) Submission of petition. Any employer who wishes to maintain records in a manner different from that required by
this part may submit a petition containing the information specified in paragraph (c) of this section to the Regional
Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics wherein the establishment involved is located.
(b) Opportunity for comment. Affected employees or their representatives shall have an opportunity to submit written
data, views, or arguments concerning the petition to the Regional Commissioner involved within 10 working days
following the receipt of notice under paragraph (c)(5) of this section. [42 F.R. 65166, December 30, 1977.]
(c) Contents of petition. A petition filed under paragraph (a) of this section shall include:
(1) The name and address of the applicant;
(2) The address of the place or places of employment involved;
(3) Specifications of the reasons for seeking relief;
(4) A description of the different record-keeping procedures which are proposed by the applicant;
(5) A statement that the applicant has informed his affected employees of the petition by giving a copy thereof to
them or to their authorized representative and by posting a statement giving a summary of the petition and by other
appropriate means. A statement posted pursuant to this subparagraph shall be posted in each establishment in the same
manner that notices are required to be posted under paragraph 1903.2(a) of this chapter. The applicant shall also
state that he has informed his affected employees of their rights under paragraph (b) of this section;
(6) In the event an employer has more than one establishment he shall submit a list of the States in which such
establishments are located and the number of establishments in each such State. In the further event that certain of
the employer's establishments would not be affected by the petition, the employer shall identify every establishment
which would be affected by the petition and give the State in which they are located.
(d) Referrals to Assistant Commissioner. Whenever a Regional Commissioner receivers a petition from an employer
having one or more establishments beyond the geographic boundary of his region, or a petition from a class of
employers having any establishment beyond the boundary of his region, he shall refer the petition to the Assistant
Commissioner for action.
(e) Additional Notice, Conferences.
(1) In addition to the actual notice provided for in paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the Assistant Commissioner, or
the Regional Commissioner, as the case may be, may provide, or cause to be provided, such additional notice of the
petition as he may deem appropriate.
(2) The Assistant Commissioner or the Regional Commissioner, as the case may be may also afford an opportunity to
interested parties for informal conference or hearing concerning the petition. [42 F.R. 65166, December 30, 1977.]
(f) Action. After review of the petition, and of any comments submitted in regard thereto, and upon completion of any
necessary appropriate investigation concerning the petition, if the Regional Commissioner or the Assistant
Commissioner, as the case may be, finds that the alternative procedure proposed will not hamper or interfere with the
purposes of the Act and will provide equivalent information, he may grant the petition subject to such conditions as
he may determine appropriate, and subject to revocation for cause. [42 F.R. 65166, December 30, 1977.]
(g) Publication. Whenever any relief is granted to an applicant under this Act, notice of such relief, and the
reasons therefor, shall be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER.
(h) Revocation. Whenever any relief under this section is sought to be revoked for any failure to comply with the
conditions thereof, an opportunity for informal hearing or conference shall be afforded to the employers and affected
employees, or their representatives. Except in cases of willfulness or where public safety or health requires
otherwise, before the commencement of any such informal proceeding, the employer shall:
(1) Be notified in writing of the facts or conduct which may warrant the action; and
(2) be given an opportunity to demonstrate or achieve compliance.
(i) Compliance after submission of petitions. The submission of a petition or any delay by the Regional Commissioner,
or the Assistant Commissioner, as the case may be, in acting upon a petition shall not relieve any employer from any
obligation to comply with this part. However, the Regional Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner, as the case
may be, shall give notice of the denial of any petition within a reasonable time. [42 F.R. 65166. December 30, 1977.]
(j) Consultation. There shall be consultation between the appropriate representative of the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in order to insure the effective implementation of this
section [36 F.R. 12612, July 2, 1971, as amended at 37 F.R. 737, Jan. 18, 1972.]
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1904.14 EMPLOYEES NOT IN FIXED
ESTABLISHMENTS |
Employers of employees engaged in physically dispersed operations such as occur in construction, installation, repair
or service activities who do not report to any fixed establishment on a regular basis but are subject to common
supervision may satisfy the provisions of paragraphs 1904.2, 1904.4, and 1904.6 with respect to such employees by:
(a) Maintaining the required records for each operation or group of operations which is subject to common supervision
(field superintendent, field supervisor, etc.) in an established central place;
(b) Having the address and telephone number of the central place available at each worksite; and
(c) Having personnel available at the central place during normal business hours to provide information from the
records maintained there by telephone and by mail. [37 F.R. 20822, Oct. 5, 1972]
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| 1904.15 SMALL EMPLOYERS |
An employer who had no more than ten (10) employees at any time during the calendar year immediately preceding the
current calendar year need not comply with any of the requirements of this part except the following:
(a) Obligation to report under paragraph 1904.8 concerning fatalities or multiple hospitalization accidents; and
(b) Obligation to maintain a log of occupational injuries and illnesses under paragraph 1904.2 and to make reports
under paragraph 1904.21 upon being notified in writing by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the employer has been
selected to participate in a statistical survey of occupational injuries and illnesses. (The information collection
requirements contained in paragraph (b) were approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
1220-0045)
[42 F.R. 38568. July 29, 1977, as amended at 47 F.R. 145, Jan. 5, 1982; 47 F.R. 14706, Apr. 6, 1982]
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1904.16 ESTABLISHMENTS CLASSIFIED IN
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION CODES
(SIC) 52-89, (EXCEPT 52-54, 70, 75, 76, 79 AND 80) |
An employer whose establishment is classified in SIC's 52-89 (Excluding 52-54, 70, 75, 76, 79 and 80) need not
comply, for such establishment, with any of the requirements of this part except the following:
(a) Obligation to report under paragraph 1904.8 concerning fatalities or multiple hospitalization accidents; and
(b) Obligation to maintain a log of occupational injuries and illnesses under paragraph 1904.21, upon being notified
in writing by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the employer has been selected to participate in a statistical
survey of occupational injuries and illnesses. [47 F.R. 57702, December 28, 1982]
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| 1904.20 DESCRIPTION OF STATISTICAL PROGRAM |
(a) Section 24 of the Act directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education,
and Welfare, to develop and maintain a program of collection, compilation, and analysis of occupational safety and
health statistics. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been delegated this authority by the
Secretary of Labor. The program shall consist of periodic surveys of occupational injuries and illnesses. [42 F.R.
65166, December 30, 1977.]
(b) The sample design encompasses probability procedures, detailed stratification by industry and size, and a
systematic selection within strata. Stratification and sampling will be carried out by State and other jurisdictions
in order to provide the most efficient sample for eventual State estimates. Some industries will be sampled more
heavily than others depending on the injury rate level based on previous experience. Nationally, the survey should
produce adequate estimates for most four-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industries in manufacturing
and for three-digit SIC classification in nonmanufacturing. In participating States where the sample size has been
supplemented significantly, comparable estimates are possible. [37 F.R. 2439, Feb 1, 1972, as amended at 42 F.R.
65166, Dec. 30, 1977]
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| 1904.21 DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS |
Upon receipt of an Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Survey Form, the employer shall promptly complete the form in
accordance with the instructions contained therein, and return it in accordance with the aforesaid instructions.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1220-0045)
[42 F.R. 65166. December 30, 1977, as amended at 47 F.R. 145, Jan. 5, 1982; 47 F.R. 14706, Apr. 6, 1982]
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| 1904.22 EFFECT OF STATE PLANS |
Nothing in any State plan approved under section 18(c) of the Act shall affect the duties of employers to submit
statistical report forms under paragraph 1904.21 [37 F.R. 2439, Feb. 1, 1972.] |
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