What workplace safety records must be maintained in Myanmar?
Myanmar employers must maintain an accident register, safety training log, PPE issuance log, safety committee minutes, risk assessments, and fire-drill records under the Occupational Safety and Health Law 2019. Retention is at least 5 years for OSH-specific records, and at least 7 years for hours and personnel records. The OSH inspectorate and township labour office can demand these on inspection.
What Myanmar law says
The Occupational Safety and Health Law 2019 requires Myanmar employers to maintain a documented evidence trail of safety practices. The records support both regulatory inspection (by MoLES, the OSH inspectorate, and the township labour office) and buyer-audit scrutiny in export sectors. Many records are also relied upon if a workplace accident escalates to a workplace-injury benefit claim or civil dispute.
Records can be paper or digital provided entries are timestamped, attributable, and tamper-evident. Multi-site groups should keep site-level files; consolidated dashboards are encouraged but cannot replace the underlying records.
Required safety records
| Record | Captures | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Accident register | Date, employee, injury, severity, root cause, corrective action | ≥ 5 years |
| MoLES accident report file | Copy of 24-hour serious-accident report + acknowledgment | ≥ 5 years |
| Safety training log | Date, attendees, topic, trainer, materials | ≥ 5 years |
| PPE issuance log | Item, date, employee, signed acknowledgment | ≥ 5 years |
| Safety committee minutes | Meeting date, attendees, agenda, decisions | ≥ 5 years |
| Risk assessments | Operation, hazard, control, residual risk, review date | ≥ 5 years |
| Fire-drill records | Date, time to evacuate, observations, follow-ups | ≥ 5 years |
| Health-surveillance records (where applicable) | Pre-employment + periodic medicals | ≥ 5 years |
Edge cases
- Construction sites — site induction logs, safety briefing logs, scaffolding inspection records also required.
- High-hazard industries — chemical inventory and exposure logs needed under sector notifications.
- Multi-tenant offices — fire-drill record can be shared with the building landlord's drill, but employer must keep own copy.
- Buyer audit demands — Better Work and brand-specific programs commonly request the full records set for the prior 12 months.
- Digital migration — preserve historic paper records until 5-year retention horizon lapses.
Records and inspections
The OSH inspectorate under MoLES inspects safety records during routine and complaint-driven visits. The township labour office can also demand records during a hours/OT inspection. Late accident reporting or missing PPE log are the two most common findings in factories. Retention ≥ 5 years for OSH records.
Employer takeaway
Maintain accident register, training log, PPE issuance log, safety committee minutes, risk assessments, and fire-drill records. Retain for at least 5 years. Construction sites, mining, and high-hazard industries have additional records under sector notifications. The OSH inspectorate and township labour office both can demand records on inspection. A complete records set is the strongest defence in any accident or buyer-audit follow-up.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the PPE issuance log because PPE is "kept on the floor".
- Failing to record fire-drill timing and follow-up actions.
- Holding committee meetings without keeping minutes.
- Reporting accidents verbally to the labour office without keeping a paper trail.
Related reading: what OSH Law 2019 covers, law on workplace accidents, and first-aid kits mandatory.
- Occupational Safety and Health Law 2019 — Records and retention
- Compliance Calendar — Retention summary
- Factories Act 1951 — Factory safety records overlay
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