The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 requires certain employers to prepare and maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Below is a brief overview of the requirements surrounding the types of injuries and illnesses that should be recorded on this log.
A work related injury is defined as an injury or illness that occurs at work, or any place an employee is present as a condition of their employment. This includes preexisting conditions which become significantly aggravated due to the conditions of employment as well.
The types of injuries and illness require to record are as follows:
Injuries or illnesses resulting in,
death
loss of consciousness
days away from work
restricted work
job transfer
medical treatment beyond first aid
(any case involving) fracture or cracked bone
(any case involving) cancer
(any case involving) pierced eardrum
(any case involving) diagnosis by a physician or any licensed healthcare provider
Additional criteria involves:
needle-sticks or cuts contaminated by another persons blood or infectious material
any person requiring removal for medical needs
any positive TB tests results after exposure to a infectious agent
significant change to an employees hearing as a result of conditions of employment
Each Injury and Illness log must be posted according to OSHA guidelines, and is available for all employees to review. However, there are cases that can, and are required to, remain private. In the case of:
injuries to an intimate body part or reproductive system
injury or illness resulting from sexual assault
mental illness
a case of HIV, TB, or hepatitis
a needle-sticks or cuts contaminated by another persons blood or infectious material
voluntary request by the employee
An employer must keep a confidential log separate from the main Injury and Illness log. The confidential log log is not available to employees. On the main log “privacy case” is to be written into the name designation. Additionally, if the case details are determined to give away the identity of the individual, discretion can be used in describing the event on the main log.
If you need help understanding what incidents to include, the confidential log, what to do if outcomes change, when and how to post the log, how long to post the log for, when and what to report to OSHA, where to get the log, or how to calculate the incident rates contact us!