Safety Tidbit #2.11 – OSHA 300 – What Gets Recorded

Safety Tidbit #2.11 – OSHA 300 – What Gets Recorded

Source:              OSHA Recordkeeping Webpage

So, you now have more than 10 employees and you were told that you must keep an OSHA log. Probably, your first question was – “What is an OSHA log?” Well, an OSHA log is the OSHA 300 log or the log of workplace injuries and illnesses. So now, your second logical question is, and where I wish to spend a little time in this week’s Safety Tidbit, “What injuries and illnesses must be recorded on this log?”

Let’s start with the easy ones are

1. Any work-related fatality;

2. Any work-related injury or illness that

a. results in loss of consciousness,

b. day away from work,

c. restricted work, or

d. transfer to another job;

3. Any work-related diagnosed case of cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones or teeth, and punctured eardrums.

Now the not so easy one is

Any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.

Which begs the question - How does OSHA define first aid, right? Well, OSHA has an answer and it’s a bit lengthy (imagine that). If a workplace injury or illness results in any of the following it is considered first aid:

·       Using a non-prescription medication at nonprescription strength (for medications available in both prescription and non-prescription form, a recommendation by a physician or other licensed health care professional to use a non-prescription medication at prescription strength is considered medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes);

·       Administering tetanus immunizations (other immunizations, such as Hepatitis B vaccine or rabies vaccine, are considered medical treatment); Cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin

·       Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids™, gauze pads, etc.; or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips™ (other wound closing devices such as sutures, staples, etc., are considered medical treatment);

·       Using hot or cold therapy;

·       Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, non-rigid back belts, etc. (devices with rigid stays or other systems designed to immobilize parts of the body are considered medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes);

·       Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an accident victim (e.g., splints, slings, neck collars, back boards, etc.). 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 are considered medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes); or

·       Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

Bottom line, if you can’t take care of it yourself, you probably should be putting it on your OSHA 300 Log. Oh, and if this wasn’t confusing enough, there are also special recording criteria for work-related cases involving: needlesticks and sharps injuries; medical removal; hearing loss; and tuberculosis.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits ~ Bryan