OSHA Recordables

OSHA Recordables Employer email blasts copy

When providing worker’s compensation injury care, although our primary concern is always for the patient, we also understand the needs of our client employers. We know that helping to keep “OSHA Recordable injuries” to a minimum is not only in your best interests, but can actually help your injured employees avoid unnecessary disability and it’s subsequent detrimental effects on both physical and mental well being.

You may find this quick review of OSHA recording criteria helpful:

Employers with 11 or more employees must record workplace injuries on the OSHA 300 log.  An OSHA 300 log sample and related instructions are here:  http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf

Work Relatedness/Causality:  An injury or illness is considered work-related if the condition Arose Out of Employment during the Course Of Employment (AOE/COE), due to an event or exposure at the workplace.  A condition is not work related if it arose coincidentally while at the work place, but due to factors outside the workplace, or while performing personal or volunteer activities at the workplace.  Thus the condition must be caused or significantly aggravated by an identifiable event or exposure arising from work.

General Recording Criteria:

• Death
• Days away from work
• Restricted work
• Transfer to another job
• Medical treatment beyond first aid
• Loss of Consciousness
• Diagnosis of a significant injury or illness

Death:  Any work-related death must be recorded on the OSHA 300 log, and also reported to OSHA within 8 hours.

Days Away From Work:  Even one day!  If the patient has worked today and returns to full duty tomorrow, no time loss has occurred and the case is not recordable.  Weekends and holidays count!  If the employee is ABLE to work tomorrow, no matter what day it is, we’ll release them for tomorrow.

Restricted Work:  A worker is considered restricted when they are prevented from performing any of their regular duties performed within the last week, or if work is restricted to less than the full workday they normally would have worked.

We always ask the patient what their job duties are and determine if the injury prevents them from doing normal job functions.  If in doubt, we’ll call you and ask about specific duties.  If they would have a restriction that is not part of their regular job functions, we won’t need to specify unnecessary restrictions.

Medical Treatment beyond First Aid:  This is the area where treating physicians can easily make an otherwise non-recordable injury recordable.  According to OSHA, the following list is considered First Aid:

(a) Using a nonprescription medication at nonprescription strength;

(b) Administering tetanus immunizations;

(c) Cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin;

(d) Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids, gauze pads, etc.;or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips;

(e) Using hot or cold therapy;

(f) Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, non-rigid back belts, etc.;

(g) Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an accident victim;

(h) Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister;

(i) Using eye patches;

(j) Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab;

(k) Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means;

(l) Using finger guards;

(m) Using massages; or

(n) Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

We’re happy to discuss any of your workplace health needs, just give us a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx or email at workdocs@occmed.com

PS – enjoy this workplace safety song – Working for a living – Huey Lewis and the News

Make sure your providers are conversant in treating worker’s comp injuries – see the Occmed for Providers course to get everyone up to speed