For how many years must OSHA medical records be kept?

For how many years must OSHA medical records be kept?

• A. 30 years
• B. 5 years
• C. 10 years
• D. 40 years

Answer: (A)

OSHA requires medical records to be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years. This long retention helps cover cases where occupational illnesses have long latency and records may be needed long after a worker has left the job, for future medical care, workers’ compensation, or regulatory reviews. Medical surveillance results, physician notes, and related exam records fall into this category, so they must be preserved for that extended period to ensure ongoing access and protection.

OSHA requires medical records to be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years. This long retention helps cover cases where occupational illnesses have long latency and records may be needed long after a worker has left the job, for future medical care, workers’ compensation, or regulatory reviews. Medical surveillance results, physician notes, and related exam records fall into this category, so they must be preserved for that extended period to ensure ongoing access and protection.