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Employee access to the OSHA 200 injury log

Summary A union asked whether workers and their representatives could inspect the entire OSHA 200 injury and illness log. OSHA said the then-current rule gave access to the full log, including names, and applied to current and retained logs rather than only entries about the requester. OSHA now labels the letter an archive document.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1995-11-06
Date issued
November 6, 1995
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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.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 Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

November 6, 1995

Mr. Joseph Pascarella
President
Local 1-S, RWDSU
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Pascarella:

Thank you for your letter dated October 16, requesting clarification of the access provisions to the OSHA No. 200, as specified under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1904.7.

Access to the entire Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA No. 200) is to be provided to employees, former employees, and their representatives in a reasonable manner and at a reasonable time. The entire log includes the employer identification section, columns (A) through (F), including the employees' names, columns (1) through (13), and the totals and certification sections. Furthermore, as stated in Q&A A-4 on page 58 of the enclosed Recordkeeping Guidelines for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the access provisions are not limited to the portion of the Log containing any entry or entries that specifically relate to a particular employee, former employee or group of employees, regardless of who seeks such access.

These access provisions apply to the current log and summary forms, and those being maintained for the 5-year retention period. Redress for failure to comply with the access provisions of the regulations can be obtained through a complaint to OSHA, who may issue citations for failure to provide access under 29 CFR Part 1904.7.

I am also enclosing a copy of the Final Rule regarding this subject published in the Federal Register in 1978. I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any further questions, please contact us at Area Code (202) 219-6463.

Sincerely,
Bob Whitmore
Chief
Division of Recordkeeping Requirements

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