What must an organization maintain records for, after employment?

Maintaining records for 30 years after employment is important for several reasons, particularly in the context of occupational safety and health, as well as legal and regulatory compliance. Organizations are often required to keep records related to an employee's exposure to hazardous materials, injury reports, training records, and other pertinent information that may be valuable not only for compliance audits but also for potential future claims or litigation.

The 30-year duration aligns with regulations in many jurisdictions, such as those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, which mandate the retention of certain records for extended periods to ensure that past employees have access to necessary information that could impact their health or legal standing. This long retention period allows for adequate protection of employees' rights and provides important documentation for both the employee and the employer.

Shorter record retention periods may not adequately account for the potential latency of certain health effects from occupational exposures, necessitating a longer timeframe to ensure all necessary information is available should questions or issues arise well after an employee's departure.