OSHA Reporting: What Business Owners Need to Know for 2026
Your 2026 Workplace Safety Playbook Is Here
As a business owner, you're calling the plays for your team—and that includes protecting them on the job. Starting February 1, OSHA's annual workplace injury and illness reporting requirements kick in, and missing these deadlines could put you on the sidelines with penalties.
Here's what you need to know to keep your business compliant and your team protected in 2026.
Form 300A Posting: February 1 – April 30
If your company had 11 or more employees at any point in 2025, you're required to post OSHA Form 300A—the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses—from February 1 through April 30. This applies even if you didn't have any recordable incidents last year.
Here's the game plan: A company executive must certify the form, and it needs to be posted in a conspicuous location at each establishment where employee notices are typically displayed. Think break rooms, entryways, or anywhere your team naturally gathers.
Who Gets a Pass?
Certain businesses get partial relief from OSHA's routine record keeping requirements if they meet one of these criteria:
10 or fewer employees across the entire company
Primary business activity classified as low-hazard according to OSHA's guidelines (find the full list of exempt industries by NAICS code here)
Keep in mind, this exemption is "partial"—all employers must still notify OSHA immediately when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye.
Electronic Submission Deadline: March 2
Covered establishments must submit their 2025 Form 300A data electronically using OSHA's Injury Tracking Application (ITA). The deadline is March 2, 2026.
Who's Covered?
This requirement is based on the size of each "establishment" (how many employees work at a specific physical location), not your total company headcount:
250 or more employees at a single establishment in 2025
20–249 employees at a single establishment if you're in a designated high-risk industry
Most employers covered by a State Plan must also use the ITA to submit data electronically.
You're Off the Hook If:
You don't need to send Form 300A information to OSHA if you meet any of these conditions:
You qualify for the partial exemption mentioned above (10 or fewer employees or low-hazard industry)
You never had 20 or more employees during 2025, regardless of industry
You had 20–249 employees at some point in 2025 but are NOT on this list of high-hazard industries
Additional Requirements for High-Hazard Industries
If your establishment is in a designated high-hazard industry and had 100 or more employees in 2025, you'll need to electronically submit information from both:
Form 300: Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
Form 301: Injury and Illness Incident Report
This is in addition to your Form 300A submission, and the same March 2 deadline applies.
Need Help Determining Your Requirements?
Use OSHA's ITA Coverage Application to determine if you're required to electronically submit your injury and illness information. If you're covered by a State Plan, check your state's specific reporting requirements as well.
Bottom Line for Business Owners
Workplace safety compliance isn't just about avoiding penalties—it's about protecting your most valuable asset: your team. Missing these deadlines or skipping required postings can lead to OSHA citations and fines that pull you away from what matters most: growing your business.
If navigating HR compliance feels like one more thing keeping you from calling the plays that drive growth, that's where we come in. At My Valuable Business, our fractional HR team operates as your offensive line, handling compliance requirements like OSHA reporting so you can stay focused on scoring wins for your business.
Need support with OSHA compliance or other HR requirements? Contact us to learn how we can take this off your plate.