For how long must an employer keep medical records after employment ends?

The appropriate duration for retaining medical records after an employee's termination, particularly in the context of workplace safety and health regulations, is indeed the length of employment plus an additional 30 years. This extensive retention period is established primarily to ensure that any potential work-related health issues or diseases that might arise after employment can be correlated to specific workplace exposures documented in those records.

The rationale behind retaining records for this prolonged period is founded on the understanding that certain medical conditions related to occupational hazards can have long latency periods. By keeping these records accessible for 30 years after the end of employment, there is a greater chance of ensuring that individuals can seek necessary medical evaluations or compensations if relevant health issues arise later in life.

In general, shorter retention periods—like 5 or 10 years—do not provide sufficient coverage for issues related to chronic conditions that could emerge post-employment. Therefore, the requirement for maintaining records for 30 years reflects a commitment to worker safety and health, ensuring that former employees have access to crucial health information if they ever need to make health claims related to their previous workplace.