What OSHA's Form 301 is — and when you need one
OSHA's Form 301 (the Injury and Illness Incident Report) is the detailed, case-by-case record that backs up each line on your OSHA 300 Log. Whenever a work-related injury or illness is recordable, you must complete a 301 — or an equivalent form — within 7 calendar days of receiving information that the case occurred (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3)). It is an internal record you keep on file; you do not routinely send it to OSHA.
The 301 captures employee medical information. Restrict access and store medical records per 29 CFR 1910.1020. For a privacy-concern case (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(7)) do not enter the employee's name on the 300 Log — keep a separate confidential list (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(6)).
The six information blocks the 301 requires
| Block | What it captures | CFR |
|---|---|---|
| Case information | Case number, date and time of the event, time the employee began work, date reported. | 29 CFR Form 301 |
| Employee information | Full name, address, date of birth, date hired, sex. | 29 CFR Form 301 items 1-5 |
| Treatment | Physician/health-care professional, facility name and address, emergency-room and overnight-hospitalization status. | 29 CFR Form 301 |
| What happened | Where the event occurred, what the employee was doing, what happened, and the object or substance that directly harmed the employee. | 29 CFR Form 301 |
| The injury/illness | What part of the body was affected and how it was affected (nature of the injury or illness). | 29 CFR Form 301 |
| Completed by | Name, title, phone number, and date of the person who completed the form. | 29 CFR Form 301 |
Key recordkeeping deadlines
| Requirement | Deadline | CFR |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the 301 (or equivalent) | 7 calendar days of learning of the case | 29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3) |
| Retain the 301, 300, 300A & privacy list | 5 years after the covered year | 29 CFR 1904.33 |
| Cap on days away / restricted count | Stop at 180 calendar days | 29 CFR 1904.7(b)(3)(vii) |
| Report a work-related fatality to OSHA | 8 hours | 29 CFR 1904.39 |
| Report hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye | 24 hours | 29 CFR 1904.39 |
Worked examples
Example 1 — Laceration needing stitches. A laborer cuts his right hand on a circular-saw blade and gets four sutures in the ER. Sutures are medical treatment beyond first aid, so the case is recordable (29 CFR 1904.7). The employer completes a 301 within 7 days describing the saw, the task, and the laceration, classifies it as "other recordable case" (no lost days), and files it. An ER visit alone is not a reportable hospitalization, so no 8/24-hour report to OSHA is required.
Example 2 — Fall with overnight admission. A worker falls from a ladder, breaks an ankle, is admitted to the hospital overnight, and misses work. This is a days-away case. The employer files the 301 within 7 days, counts the days away (capping at 180 if needed), and separately reports the in-patient hospitalization to OSHA within 24 hours (29 CFR 1904.39).
What to do after you complete the 301
- Add the case to your OSHA 300 Log within the same 7-day window, including the column-M injury/illness classification.
- Check the reporting clock. A fatality (8 h) or an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye (24 h) must be reported to OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA — separate from this record (29 CFR 1904.39).
- Investigate the root cause and abate it so the same hazard can't recur — and document the corrective action.
- File and protect the record. Keep it confidential and retain it for 5 years (29 CFR 1904.33).
Frequently asked questions
When must OSHA Form 301 be completed?
Complete an OSHA 301 (or an equivalent form) within 7 calendar days of receiving information that a recordable work-related injury or illness has occurred (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3)). The same 7-day window applies to entering the case on your OSHA 300 Log.
Who is responsible for filling out the OSHA 301?
The employer is responsible. In practice the safety coordinator, HR, or supervisor gathers information from the injured worker, witnesses, and the treating physician to complete every section. The injured employee does not have to fill it out.
How long must OSHA 301 records be kept?
Retain each 301 (plus the 300 Log, the annual 300A summary, and any privacy-case list) for 5 years following the end of the calendar year the records cover (29 CFR 1904.33).
Is the OSHA 301 the same as a workers' comp first report of injury?
No, but OSHA lets you use an equivalent form — including a state workers' compensation first-report-of-injury or an insurance form — as long as it captures all of the same data the 301 requires. Many state comp forms qualify as substitutes.
What injuries and illnesses require a 301?
Every OSHA-recordable case requires a 301. A case is recordable if it is work-related (1904.5), a new case (1904.6), and meets a general recording criterion (1904.7): death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant injury/illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional.
Is the 301 the same form I send to OSHA after a fatality?
No. The 301 is an internal record you keep on file — you do not routinely send it to OSHA. Separately, you must report a work-related fatality to OSHA within 8 hours, and an in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye within 24 hours (29 CFR 1904.39) by calling 1-800-321-OSHA or reporting online.
What is a privacy-concern case on the 301?
A privacy-concern case (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(7)) is one of a closed list: an injury or illness to an intimate body part or the reproductive system, an injury or illness resulting from a sexual assault, a mental illness, HIV infection, hepatitis or tuberculosis, a needlestick injury or cut from a sharp object contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material, or any other illness if the employee voluntarily asks that their name not be entered. For these, do not enter the employee's name on the OSHA 300 Log. Keep a separate confidential list of case numbers and names (29 CFR 1904.29(b)(6)). An injury does not become a privacy case because the employee asks (1904.29(b)(8)).
Can I cap the days-away count?
Yes. You may stop counting days away from work and/or days of restriction/transfer once the combined total reaches 180 calendar days; entering 180 is sufficient. (29 CFR 1904.7(b)(3)(vii)).
Sources & verification
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1904
- https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/forms
- https://www.osha.gov/report
Recordkeeping facts verified 2026-10-05 against eCFR Title 29 Part 1904 and OSHA.gov. This generator produces an internal record; it is not legal advice and not a substitute for your own recordability determination.
Is this case recordable? →Build your 300A summary →What did this incident cost? →29 CFR 1904 recordkeeping →