Every California employer, no matter how small, is required to keep a “Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”, Cal/OSHA Form 300.

If you have 11 or more employees at any one site or facility, your must post the Annual Summary of the log from February 1 through April 30 of the following year. This date is rapidly approaching. (If you have 10 or fewer employees, you need to keep the log, but do not need to post the summary form.)

The bottom line is …

1. You can do the minimum required by law, keep and post the records, and avoid a Cal/OSHA fine, or
   
   
2. Use these records to save money on your workers’ compensation and improve your safety record.

Now, at the start of the New Year, why not use this Cal/OSHA information to improve your business? Here’s how:

• Review the log of injuries- Who is getting hurt? How are they being injured? Question-what have you done about the causes of injury?
• Look again at which injuries required days away from work. (Tip: these are the most expensive claims.) Question-what did you do to keep these workers on the job, at some activity? What could you have done?
• Compare the totals on the Annual Summary (Cal/OSHA form 300). What is the number of cases this year compared to the past 3 years? Question-what is the trend?
• Compare “total number of days away from work” this year with the past 3 years. Question-are you doing better?

For 2007, use this information to plan your company’s training, safety and return to work programs.

A record of low accident frequency and a history of improving results by reducing the number of accidents and days away from work are important to workers’ compensation insurance underwriters when they price your premium rates. If you have a good record, make sure your insurance agent and the insurance companies quoting your business know it. Premium quotes can vary as much as 50% based on this information.

For information on Cal/OSHA recordkeeping, you can refer to www.Californiaosha.info.

Don Dressler Consulting can help you with questions about completing the Cal/OSHA injury log, reportable injuries and how to plan to reduce injuries and the “days away from work”. For more information contact Dressler at (949) 533-3742 or info@dondressler.com.