Final answer:
Certain small businesses with ten or fewer employees and those in specific low-hazard industries are partially exempt from the requirement to keep an annual log of industrial injuries and accidents. However, they must still report serious incidents to OSHA and fulfill other safety-related obligations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Businesses that are not required to keep an annual log of industrial injuries and accidents typically include those with ten or fewer employees throughout the previous calendar year, as well as certain low-hazard industries.
According to OSHA Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements, while most employers are required to keep accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses, there are two classes of employers that are partially exempt from routinely keeping these records.
The first exemption applies to employers with ten or fewer employees during the last calendar year, and the second exemption includes establishments in certain low-hazard industries.
Furthermore, these establishments must still report work-related fatalities, inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye to OSHA. They must also provide workplace safety training, personal protective equipment, and perform tests such as air sampling when required by OSHA standards. The requirement to post OSHA citations and injury and illness summary data is also still applicable.