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What is an OSHA Recordable Incident?

An OSHA recordable incident is an event or exposure that results in an injury, illness, or death. Not all incidents are considered OSHA recordable however. In this blog post, we will discuss what is and isn’t considered an OSHA recordable incident. Stay safe!

Who is required to log OSHA events?

With some exceptions, OSHA expects companies that have more than 10 employees to keep records of fatal or serious injuries.  In addition, all employers are required to record fatalities and hospitalizations that occur as a result of workplace exposure.

While OSHA recordable incidents can be traumatic for workers and companies alike, it is important to understand what types of events are considered osha recordables in order to take the necessary steps to prevent them.

What is an OSHA Recordable Incident?

An OSHA recordable incident is an event or exposure that results in an injury, illness, or death. This can include workplace accidents such as slips and falls, exposure to hazardous materials or conditions, or any other event that leads to a work-related injury or illness.

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OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses are those that must be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Form 300. This includes any work-related injury or illness that results in but is not limited to:

  1. Medical treatment beyond first aid
  2. Loss of consciousness
  3. One or more days away from work following the date of the incident
  4. Restricted work or transfer to another job
  5. Any significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional
  6. Any work-related fatality
  7. A diagnosis of cancer relating to work
  8. Cracked teeth or fractured bones due to work
  9. Punctured eardrums due to work

Loss of Consciousness

If an employee loses consciousness for any length of time due to a work-related cause or exposure, the incident becomes a recordable event for OSHA.

There are some cases when a worker loses consciousness that would not be considered work-related. This means it would not be recorded. Some examples of these cases are when loss of consciousness is due to a personal health condition, like epilepsy, diabetes, or narcolepsy.

If someone loses consciousness during a voluntary activity at work, like donating blood or doing a recreational activity, it isn’t considered an OSHA recordable event. If the employee gets injured because of losing consciousness during a voluntary activity, the injury isn’t considered work-related.

Injuries that Require Days Away from Work, Restrictions, or Transfers

Any injury that results in Days away from Work, Restrictions or Transfer to another job per the recommendations by a licensed healthcare provider will result in a recordable injury.

What Classifies as First Aid to OSHA?

There are fourteen treatments that are considered first aid, and therefore not OSHA recordables. These include:

  1. The use of medications, as long as they are non-prescription at non-prescription strength
  2. Tetanus immunizations
  3. Cleaning, flushing, or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin
  4. Applying a wound covering, such as an adhesive bandage, gauze pad, or butterfly bandage
  5. Applying heat or cold
  6. Non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, or non-rigid back belts
  7. Drilling a fingernail or toenail to drain and relieve pressure or draining fluid from a blister
  8. Using an eye patch
  9. Removing a foreign body from an eye without using instruments (a swab or irrigation may be used)
  10. Removing splinters or foreign materials from other parts of the body using irrigation, tweezers, or swabs
  11. Finger guards
  12. First aid massage
  13. Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress

There are four first aid treatments for musculoskeletal injuries. These are the only treatments that are allowed if the injury is not OSHA recordable. These include:

  1. Flexible taping
  2. Physical or occupational therapy evaluation
  3. Massage
  4. Exercises to help prevent injury

Reporting Injuries and Illnesses to OSHA

In order to keep workers safe and prevent OSHA recordable incidents from happening, it is important for employers to have a clear reporting system in place. This can include making sure that all employees are familiar with OSHA’s reporting requirements, as well as developing a protocol for how to properly report safety concerns or injuries.

If you are injured or witness another worker get injured, it is crucial that you report the incident to your employer as soon as possible.

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Maintaining and Posting Records

Employers must keep records of injuries and illnesses at their worksite for at least five years. Each February through April, they must post a summary of the previous year’s recorded injuries and illnesses. If requested, they must also provide copies of the records to current and former employees or their representatives.

Electronic Submission of Records

The Injury Tracking Application (ITA) is accessible from the ITA launch page. On this page, you can provide the Agency with your OSHA Form 300A information. The date by which certain employers are required to submit their completed Form 300A to OSHA is March 2nd of the year after the calendar year covered by the form.

Severe Injury Reporting

While you must keep a running log each year through the 300A form for most injuries an illnesses, there is one exception. This is for severe injury reporting. Employers must report any worker fatality to OSHA within 8 hours. Further, any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker must be reported to OSHA within 24 hours.

Conclusion of OSHA Recordable Events

Workers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to OSHA recordable events. Reporting injuries and illnesses is crucial in order to keep workers safe and prevent further accidents from happening. Employers must maintain records of all injuries and illnesses, as well as post a summary of the previous year’s incidents each February through April.

At WorkSafe Physical Therapy, we help prevent OSHA recordable injuries and provide first aid services to employees. Don’t wait until an injury occurs- contact us today!

Contact WorkSafe to find out how we can help your company today!


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