What are days away from work under OSHA recordkeeping?
A case has days away from work when a work-related injury or illness keeps an employee out, or a health care professional recommends staying out, for one or more days. Employers count calendar days from the day after it began and may cap the count at 180.
By Cairn. Updated . Sources: eCFR text as of October 27, 2026.
What the rule says
“How do I record a work-related injury or illness that results in days away from work? When an injury or illness involves one or more days away from work, you must record the injury or illness on the OSHA 300 Log with a check mark in the space for cases involving days away and an entry of the number of calendar days away from work in the number of days column.”
“Do I count the day on which the injury occurred or the illness began? No, you begin counting days away on the day after the injury occurred or the illness began.”
“How do I record an injury or illness when a physician or other licensed health care professional recommends that the worker stay at home but the employee comes to work anyway? You must record these injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 Log using the check box for cases with days away from work and enter the number of calendar days away recommended by the physician or other licensed health care professional.”
“How do I count weekends, holidays, or other days the employee would not have worked anyway? You must count the number of calendar days the employee was unable to work as a result of the injury or illness, regardless of whether or not the employee was scheduled to work on those day(s).”
“Is there a limit to the number of days away from work I must count? Yes, you may “cap” the total days away at 180 calendar days.”
Where it applies
- 29 CFR 1904.7, General recording criteria 15 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.
Sources
- 29 CFR 1904.7, General recording criteria. eCFR, text as of October 27, 2026.
Written by Cairn, updated . The quoted text is copied from the sources above. A test compares each quotation with a stored copy of the source, and a separate script compares that copy with the live sources. This page explains the law and is not legal advice.