§ 1904.33 Retention and updating.
Basic requirement. You must save the OSHA 300 Log, the privacy case list (if one exists), the annual summary, and the OSHA 301 Incident Report forms for five (5) years following the end of the calendar year that these records cover.
Implementation —(1) Do I have to update the OSHA 300 Log during the five-year storage period? Yes, during the storage period, you must update your stored OSHA 300 Logs to include newly discovered recordable injuries or illnesses and to show any changes that have occurred in the classification of previously recorded injuries and illnesses. If the description or outcome of a case changes, you must remove or line out the original entry and enter the new information.
Do I have to update the annual summary? No, you are not required to update the annual summary, but you may do so if you wish.
Do I have to update the OSHA 301 Incident Reports? No, you are not required to update the OSHA 301 Incident Reports, but you may do so if you wish.
Text reproduced verbatim from the eCFR, edition 2026-01-01, retrieved 2026-07-19. A US Government work in the public domain under 17 U.S.C. 105.
1 OSHA interpretation of § 1904.33
How OSHA has applied this section
Letters of Interpretation are OSHA answering specific questions on specific facts. They explain the requirement above but cannot create additional obligations, and a later letter can supersede an earlier one. Newest first.
Search all Part 1904 interpretations →Part-level source: eCFR API, Title 29 Part 1904.
Not legal advice. This page republishes 29 CFR Part 1904 as published by the eCFR and explains it. The recordkeeping duty is the employer’s. Where the rule requires judgement, Job13 says so rather than guessing — run your own case through the free check.