What records can a worker inspect to learn about injuries and illnesses?

• A. Records of work-related injuries and illnesses that the employer must keep, and related reporting forms.
• B. Employee payroll records.
• C. Marketing plans.
• D. Personal medical records.

Answer: (A)

Workers can inspect the records that document work-related injuries and illnesses that the employer is required to keep, along with the related reporting forms. These records include the OSHA 300 Log (the injury and illness log), the OSHA 301 Incident Report forms, and the OSHA 300A Annual Summary. They’re the official records designed to show what injuries and illnesses have occurred in the workplace and how they were reported, so reviewing them gives workers a clear view of safety performance and potential trends. Workers have the right to access these records and can request copies, typically during normal business hours and with a representative if desired. The annual 300A summary is also used to give a broad view of injuries across the year and is usually posted in the workplace for awareness.

Other records like payroll records or marketing plans do not document injuries or illnesses, so they don’t serve this purpose. Personal medical records are private and not part of the OSHA injury/illness records that workers are entitled to inspect.