Each year, many employers are required to post OSHA’s Form 300A: Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses in the workplace. The posting period begins February 1 and runs through April 30.
For Virginia manufacturers, this is more than a compliance checkbox. It is a practical opportunity to reinforce safety culture, reduce risk, and strengthen operational performance.
What is OSHA Form 300A?
OSHA Form 300A is the annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses recorded on an employer’s OSHA 300 Log. Even if you have had zero recordable incidents, many employers are still required to complete and post the 300A for the year.
Who must post OSHA Form 300A?
In general, employers who are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records must:
- Complete the OSHA 300A Annual Summary
- Have it certified by a company executive
- Post it at each establishment from February 1 through April 30
Small employer exemption (important)
If your company had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the previous calendar year, you are generally not required to keep OSHA 300/300A records (unless OSHA or the Bureau of Labor Statistics specifically requires it).
What you need to do (simple compliance steps)
If your company is required to keep records, OSHA’s expectation is straightforward:
- Review your OSHA 300 Log for accuracy and completeness
- Complete OSHA Form 300A using totals from the 300 Log
- Have a company executive certify the form
- Post it in each establishment in a conspicuous location where employee notices are normally posted, from Feb. 1 through April 30
Why this matters to Virginia manufacturers (not just “because OSHA says so”)
1) It reduces compliance and liability exposure
Failing to post when required is a preventable issue that can create unnecessary scrutiny during an OSHA visit or after an incident.
2) It strengthens safety culture at the front line
Posting the 300A forces the organization to pause and reflect:
- Are injuries trending up or down?
- Are we repeating the same types of incidents?
- Are we learning, or just logging?
3) It supports operational performance
In manufacturing, injuries are rarely isolated events. They often signal deeper issues that also hurt productivity, such as:
- Poor workplace organization
- Inconsistent standard work
- Lack of visual controls
- Fatigue, overburden, and rushed changeovers
In other words, safety performance is frequently tied to process performance.
4) It helps you manage risk before it becomes a costly disruption
Recordables impact far more than medical costs. A single event can affect:
- Production schedules
- Overtime and staffing gaps
- Training time for replacements
- Morale and retention
- Customer delivery performance
For many Virginia manufacturers, especially those operating short staffed, these disruptions are a bigger threat than the paperwork itself.
Quick reminders
- The 300A must be posted Feb. 1 through April 30
- It must be posted where employees normally see workplace notices
- It must be certified by a company executive
Need help?
If you are unsure whether you are required to post Form 300A, or you want support improving your injury-prevention process (not just recordkeeping), GENEDGE can help.
We work alongside Virginia manufacturers to strengthen workplace safety, improve operations, and reduce avoidable disruption through practical process improvement.
-Bert Eades, GENEDGE Business Services Director
