When is an injury recordable in osha

Certain low-risk industries are exempted. Minor injuries requiring first aid only do not need to be recorded. This information helps employers, workers and OSHA evaluate the safety of a workplace, understand industry hazards, and implement worker protections to reduce and eliminate hazards -preventing future workplace injuries and illnesses. The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years.

Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives. The date by which certain employers are required to submit to OSHA the information from their completed Form A is March 2nd of the year after the calendar year covered by the form.

Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours. For the purposes of part , "first aid" means the following:.

Are any other procedures included in first aid? No, this is a complete list of all treatments considered first aid for part purposes. Does the professional status of the person providing the treatment have any effect on what is considered first aid or medical treatment? Even when these treatments are provided by a physician or other licensed health care professional, they are considered first aid for the purposes of part Similarly, OSHA considers treatment beyond first aid to be medical treatment even when it is provided by someone other than a physician or other licensed health care professional.

What is a "significant" diagnosed injury or illness that is recordable under the general criteria even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness? Work-related cases involving cancer, chronic irreversible disease, a fractured or cracked bone, or a punctured eardrum must always be recorded under the general criteria at the time of diagnosis by a physician or other licensed health care professional.

However, there are some significant injuries, such as a punctured eardrum or a fractured toe or rib, for which neither medical treatment nor work restrictions may be recommended. In addition, there are some significant progressive diseases, such as byssinosis, silicosis, and some types of cancer, for which medical treatment or work restrictions may not be recommended at the time of diagnosis but are likely to be recommended as the disease progresses.

OSHA believes that cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones, and punctured eardrums are generally considered significant injuries and illnesses, and must be recorded at the initial diagnosis even if medical treatment or work restrictions are not recommended, or are postponed, in a particular case.

By Standard Number Part Number:. General recording criteria. You must consider an injury or illness to meet the general recording criteria, and therefore to be recordable, if it results in any of the following: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.

You must also consider a case to meet the general recording criteria if it involves a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. A work-related injury or illness must be recorded if it results in one or more of the following:.

You must record an injury or illness that results in death by entering a check mark on the OSHA Log in the space for cases resulting in death. When an injury or illness involves one or more days away from work, you must record the injury or illness on the OSHA 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. If the employee is out for an extended period of time, you must enter an estimate of the days that the employee will be away, and update the day count when the actual number of days is known.

No, you begin counting days away on the day after the injury occurred or the illness began. You must record these injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 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. Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids, or gauze pads, or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips.

Other wound-closing devices such as sutures and staples are considered medical treatment. Using hot or cold therapy. Using any nonrigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps or nonrigid back belts. Devices with rigid stays or other systems designed to immobilize parts of the body are considered medical treatment for record-keeping purposes. Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an accident victim e.

Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister. Using eye patches. Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab.

Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means. Using finger guards. Using massages. Physical therapy or chiropractic treatment is considered medical treatment for record-keeping purposes.

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