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OSHA Incident Report Form 301

OSHA Incident Report Form 301

Updated February 19, 2024

An OSHA incident report, also known as Form 301, is a report that documents an injury, accident, or incident that occurs in the workplace. Other examples of an incident include exposure to hazardous substances, an adverse reaction to chemicals used on the job, poisoning, and hearing loss. The form asks for such information as who was involved, what happened, and whether treatment was administered by an employer or medical professional. The OSHA incident report will aid further investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to determine a company’s culpability and legal liability regarding a workplace incident.

OSHA Incident Rate

The OSHA Incident Rate, or Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), is a rate calculated by OSHA to gauge an organization’s safety performance compared to other organizations. Generally, a lower rate indicates a safer workplace.

Incident Rate Calculator

To calculate the TRIR, multiply the number of reported/reportable incidents by 200,000, then divide the total by the number of hours all employees work in a year. So, if a company employs 20 full-time workers, they would work 40,000 hours (20 workers x 40 hours x 50 weeks). If 10 incidents were reported, then the TRIR is 50. There are also digital tools that can help you to calculate this quickly and easily.

Incidence Rate Formula

The Bureau of Labor Statistics settled on this formula so that companies of different sizes could be compared against one another equitably and fairly. The number 200,000 represents the number of hours worked by 100 full-time employees in a year.

How to Report an Incident to OSHA

Incidents should be reported within seven (7) calendar days of when they occur. When an incident is determined to be work-related, an OSHA Incident Report Form 301 should be filled out by the employer. Employers with 10 or fewer employees are exempt from this. Employers should post the summary of incidences in a visible place by February 1 of the year following the year covered by the form and keep it visibly displayed until April 30. OSHA incident reports should be kept on file for five (5) years. They should also be electronically submitted to OSHA at the end of the year. For more information, visit the FAQ section of the OSHA website.