How OSHA record retention actually works
There is no single "OSHA retention period." The required keep-until depends on what kind of record it is, and each kind has its own paragraph of the CFR. Getting this wrong cuts both ways: shredding an exposure record too early is a violation, and keeping confidential medical records loose in a job-box is its own problem. The four rules that cover almost every contractor record are:
- Exposure & medical records → 29 CFR 1910.1020. Employee exposure measurements are kept 30 years; employee medical records are kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years. This long horizon exists because occupational disease can surface decades after exposure.
- Injury & illness logs → 29 CFR 1904.33. The OSHA 300 Log, the 300A summary, the 301 incident reports, and the privacy-case list are kept 5 years following the end of the calendar year they cover — not 30 years. They are not medical records.
- Respirator fit-test records → 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii). Keep the most recent fit-test result until the next fit test is done. The respirator medical evaluation is different — it is an exposure-related medical record and follows 1910.1020 (employment + 30 years).
- Training records → no fixed federal period. HazCom training is required (29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200)) but the standard sets no numeric retention. Keeping the records that prove your current crew was trained — a documented best practice of at least 3 years — is what an inspector actually asks for.
Record retention periods at a glance
Verified 2026-10-05 against the eCFR. State-Plan states (e.g. California, Michigan, Washington) may set stricter periods.
| Record type | Keep for | CFR |
|---|---|---|
| Employee exposure monitoring (air/noise sampling) | 30 years | 29 CFR 1910.1020(d)(1)(ii) |
| Employee medical / exposure-related medical records | Employment + 30 years | 29 CFR 1910.1020(d)(1)(i) |
| SDS for a discontinued chemical (or chemical-identity record) | 30 years from last use | 29 CFR 1910.1020(d)(1)(ii)(B) |
| OSHA 300 Log, 300A Summary, 301 reports, privacy-case list | 5 years after the covered calendar year | 29 CFR 1904.33 |
| Respirator fit-test record | Until the next fit test | 29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii) |
| Respirator medical-evaluation record | Employment + 30 years | 29 CFR 1910.1020 |
| Audiometric (hearing) test record — general industry | Duration of employment | 29 CFR 1910.95(m)(3) |
| HazCom / safety training record | No fixed period (best practice ≥ 3 yr) | 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200) |
Worked examples
1 · An OSHA 300A summary for calendar year 2024. Under 29 CFR 1904.33, you keep it for 5 years following the end of 2024 — so the keep-until date is December 31, 2029. Posting the 300A Feb 1–Apr 30 is a separate duty; the retention clock runs off the calendar year, not the posting date.
2 · A welder's medical & exposure records, separated June 25, 2024. Under 1910.1020(d)(1)(i), medical records run the duration of employment plus 30 years. Separation + 30 years = June 25, 2054. If that welder had worked less than one year and you handed them their medical file at termination, 1910.1020(d)(1)(i)(C) lets you stop retaining it.
What to do next
- Generate the schedule above for the records your site actually keeps, enter the trigger dates, and file the PDF in your HazCom binder.
- Store medical records confidentially and separately from personnel files — and never on the open OSHA 300 Log (use the privacy-case list per 29 CFR 1904.29(b)(9)).
- Set a calendar reminder for each keep-until date so you neither destroy a record early nor hold confidential records longer than required.
- Check your state plan. Federal periods are a floor; a state-plan state can require longer.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I keep employee exposure and medical records?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1020, employee exposure measurement records must be kept 30 years (1910.1020(d)(1)(ii)), and employee medical records must be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years (1910.1020(d)(1)(i)). The 30-year rule applies to exposure and medical records — not generic logs or permits.
How long do I keep the OSHA 300 Log, 300A summary, and 301 forms?
Retain the OSHA 300 Log, the annual 300A summary, the privacy-case list, and the 301 forms for 5 years following the end of the calendar year the records cover (29 CFR 1904.33). These injury/illness logs are not exposure or medical records, so the 30-year 1910.1020 rule does not apply to them.
Do I have to keep SDSs for chemicals I no longer use?
Not the SDS document itself, as long as you keep a record of the chemical's identity (or its hazardous ingredients), where and when it was used, for 30 years (29 CFR 1910.1020(d)(1)(ii)(B)). Current-use SDSs are a separate duty: they must be readily accessible to employees each work shift (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8)).
How long are respirator fit-test records kept?
Retain the most recent fit-test record until the next fit test is administered (29 CFR 1910.134(m)(2)(ii)). Respirator medical-evaluation records, by contrast, follow 29 CFR 1910.1020 — duration of employment plus 30 years. Construction adopts the respiratory standard via 29 CFR 1926.103.
What about audiometric (hearing) test records on a construction site?
Audiometric record retention (duration of employment, 29 CFR 1910.95(m)(3)) is part of the general-industry hearing-conservation program. Construction owes a continuing, effective hearing conservation program once sound levels exceed Table D-2 (29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1); PEL 90 dBA TWA), but the standard prescribes none of its contents: audiometric testing and the 85 dBA action level are 1910.95 requirements, not federal construction duties (a State Plan such as Washington can go further).
Is there a federal retention period for HazCom training records?
No fixed number. 29 CFR 1910.1200 (construction 1926.59) requires HazCom training but does not specify how long to keep the records. A documented best practice is to retain training records for at least 3 years (or the current cycle) to demonstrate ongoing compliance during an inspection. Training tied to exposure assessment can fall under the 1910.1020 retention rules.
Does this schedule replace the actual OSHA standard?
No. It is an informational aid that maps common record types to their governing CFR citation and keep-until period. Always confirm against the text of the applicable standard, note the rule's exceptions (for example, medical records for employees of less than one year), and check your state-plan requirements, which can be stricter than federal OSHA.
Sources & verification
- 29 CFR 1910.1020 — Access to employee exposure and medical records (eCFR)
- 29 CFR 1904.33 — Retaining and updating OSHA injury/illness records (eCFR)
- 29 CFR 1910.134(m) — Respirator recordkeeping (eCFR)
Retention periods and citations verified 2026-10-05. This generator is an informational aid for planning only — it is not legal advice and does not replace the text of the applicable standard. Confirm each rule's exceptions and your state-plan requirements.
Single-record retention calculator →OSHA 300A auto-filler →OSHA 301 incident form →Respirator fit-test log →