OSHA Provides New Forms To Record Work-Related Injuries

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has placed online the revised OSHA Form 300, Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. Be prepared -- several changes have occurred for 2004. The form, which employers are required to use in recording injuries and illnesses, has added an occupational-hearing-loss column as its foremost change. Other changes include moving the "days away from work" column to appear before the days "on job transfer or restriction" column and using what OSHA says are clearer formulas for calculating incidence rates. Employers must start using the new forms as of Jan. 1, 2004. Hard copies of the new form will be available in November, OSHA states. A pdf version currently is available at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf.