Employers must retain OSHA records for how many years?

Employers are required to retain OSHA records for five years to ensure that pertinent information regarding workplace injuries and illnesses is easily accessible for regulatory review and workplace safety improvements. This five-year retention period allows employers, employees, and regulatory agencies to analyze trends in workplace safety and health, providing a basis for addressing hazards and improving safety protocols over time.

The decision for five years is based on balancing the need for historical data to inform safety practices with the practicality of managing records while ensuring they remain relevant for analysis. For context, retaining records for shorter periods would not provide a comprehensive view of workplace safety trends, while a longer retention period may lead to excessive storage burdens without proportional benefit.