How long are employers responsible for keeping OSHA records following the year in which they pertain?

Employers are required to retain OSHA records for a minimum of five years following the end of the calendar year in which the records pertain. This obligation ensures that relevant workplace incident information is accessible for review and compliance purposes, allowing both OSHA and employees to evaluate safety conditions and practices over a substantial period.

The five-year retention period enables effective analysis of trends in workplace injuries and illnesses, aiding in the identification of necessary changes to improve safety standards over time. As a compliance measure, this duration also supports investigations and informs future training and prevention strategies. On the other hand, shorter retention timelines would limit the ability to conduct thorough assessments of workplace safety and hinder the understanding of longer-term patterns in occupational health and safety initiatives.