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OSHA injury logs for workers covered by longshore benefits

Summary A boat shop asked whether workers covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act still had to appear on OSHA injury records. OSHA said that coverage did not eliminate its recordkeeping duties for a business otherwise required to keep logs, though compensation forms could replace a supplementary record. It also explained how to count lost workdays under the former log system. OSHA archives the letter and warns that it may no longer reflect current policy.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1992-02-21
Date issued
February 21, 1992
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 9, 2026

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

February 21, 1992

Ms. Beverly King
Office Manager
Fishermen's Boat Shop, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Ms. King:

Thank you for your letter of December 24, 1991, requesting clarification of the OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements for workers covered by the Longshore and Harborworkers Act. The Longshore and Harborworkers Act provides medical and income benefits to injured or ill workers employed in maritime occupations. It's functions are very similar to those of State workers' compensation agencies.

The enclosed Recordkeeping Guidelines for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses describes employer's obligations to keep OSHA records. On pages 45 - 46, the guidelines describe the relationship between workers' compensation systems and the OSHA records. The only connection between the two is that workers' compensation forms may be used as a replacement for the OSHA Form 101, Supplementary Record of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

The fact that some of a firm's workers are covered by the Longshore and Harborworkers Act does not affect the companies' responsibility to maintain OSHA injury and illness records. If the firm is not exempt from recordkeeping due to their industry classification or size (see page 4 - 7 of the guidelines), the firm is required to maintain injury and illness records.

The counting of lost workdays (days away from work and/or days of restricted work activity) on the OSHA 200 log is described on pages 47 - 51 of the Guidelines. When counting lost workdays, do not include the initial day of injury or onset of illness, or any days on which the employee would not have worked even though able to work (holidays, vacations, etc.).

I hope this information will answer your questions about the recordkeeping requirements. If you have further questions please contact my staff at Area Code (202) 523-1463.

Sincerely,
Stephen A. Newell
Acting Director
Office of Statistics

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