What is required for record-keeping under OSHA regulations?

An accurate record of employee health and safety incidents is essential for compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. This requirement serves multiple purposes, including promoting workplace safety, enabling the identification of hazards, and facilitating the analysis of incidents to improve safety measures. Keeping detailed records allows employers to comply with legal obligations, ensuring they are documenting any work-related injuries, illnesses, or accidents that occur in the workplace. This data is critical for OSHA inspections and can also help organizations develop strategies to mitigate risks and enhance employee well-being.

The focus of OSHA regulations is primarily on maintaining safe working conditions and protecting employees from hazards, which is why health and safety incident records are prioritized over other types of documentation, such as performance feedback, wage payments, or attendance tracking. While those aspects are important in other contexts, they do not directly align with OSHA's goal of ensuring workplace safety and health.