As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of your employees. This includes taking necessary precautions to prevent workplace injuries. However, accidents can still happen despite all safety measures in place. When an employee gets injured on the job, it is important to determine if the injury is OSHA recordable.
What is OSHA Recordable?
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a federal agency that sets and enforces safety standards in the workplace.Recordable injuries are those that meet certain criteria set by OSHA and must be recorded in the employer's OSHA 300 log. These logs are used to track workplace injuries and illnesses and help employers identify potential hazards and improve safety measures. Not all workplace injuries are considered OSHA recordable. Only those that result in death, days away from work, restricted work activity, or medical treatment beyond first aid are considered recordable. It is important for employers to understand these criteria to accurately determine if an injury is OSHA recordable.
How to Determine if an Injury is OSHA Recordable
The first step in determining if an injury is OSHA recordable is to assess the severity of the injury.If the injury results in death, days away from work, restricted work activity, or medical treatment beyond first aid, it is considered recordable. Let's break down each of these criteria further:
Death
If an employee dies as a result of a workplace injury, it must be recorded on the employer's OSHA 300 log. This includes deaths that occur within 30 days of the injury, as well as deaths that occur after 30 days if they are a direct result of the original injury.Days Away from Work
If an employee is unable to work for one or more days as a result of a workplace injury, it is considered recordable. This includes days away from work for both medical treatment and recovery time.The days do not have to be consecutive to be considered recordable.
Restricted Work Activity
If an employee is unable to perform their regular job duties or is assigned to a different job due to a workplace injury, it is considered recordable. This includes any restrictions on work activities, such as lifting restrictions or limited use of certain body parts.Medical Treatment Beyond First Aid
If an employee receives medical treatment beyond first aid for a workplace injury, it is considered recordable. First aid includes basic treatments such as cleaning and bandaging wounds, using non-prescription medication, and administering tetanus shots. Any medical treatment beyond these basic first aid measures must be recorded. It is important to note that OSHA does not consider preventative measures, such as vaccinations or routine check-ups, as medical treatment beyond first aid.These do not need to be recorded on the OSHA 300 log.
Exceptions to OSHA Recordability
There are some exceptions to OSHA recordability that employers should be aware of. These include injuries that occur during personal tasks or activities, such as eating lunch or using the restroom. Injuries that occur during voluntary participation in wellness programs, such as exercise classes or blood drives, are also not considered recordable. In addition, injuries that result from personal grooming, such as haircuts or nail trimming, are not considered recordable. However, if the injury occurs while an employee is performing work-related tasks, such as using a company-provided tool, it would be considered recordable.Reporting OSHA Recordable Injuries
Employers are required to report OSHA recordable injuries to OSHA within a certain timeframe.For fatalities, employers must report the incident within 8 hours. For in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye, employers must report within 24 hours. It is important for employers to keep accurate records of all workplace injuries and illnesses, including OSHA recordable injuries. These records must be kept for five years and should be easily accessible for OSHA inspections.
Consequences of Not Recording OSHA Recordable Injuries
Failing to accurately record OSHA recordable injuries can result in penalties and fines from OSHA. In addition, not recording these injuries can also lead to underreporting of workplace hazards and potential hazards going unnoticed.This can put employees at risk and lead to more serious injuries in the future. It is the responsibility of employers to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees. Understanding what constitutes an OSHA recordable injury is crucial in maintaining a safe workplace and complying with OSHA regulations.
