AnOverview Year 2004Requirements

Recording Work-RelateInjuriesandIllnesses

TheOccupationalSafety andHealth(OSH)Act of 1970requirescertainemployers toprepareandmaintainrecords ofwork-relatedinjuries andillnesses.Usethesedefinitionswhen

you classifycases ontheLog.OSHA's recordkeepingregulation(see29CFRPart 1904)providedmore informationabout thedefinitions below.

TheLogorWork-RelatedInjuriesandIllnesses(Form300) isused to classify work- relatedinjuriesand illnessesandtonote the extentand severity ofeach

case.When anincidentoccurs,usethetorecord specificdetailsaboutwhathappenedandhowithappened.

The Summary —a separateform(Form300A) —showsthetotalsforthe yearin each category.Atthe end ofthe year,postthe in avisiblelocation sothat

your employeesare aware oftheinjuriesand illnessesoccurringin theirworkplace.

Employersmustkeep aforeach establishmentor site.Ifyou havemore than one establishment,youmust keepa separateandfor each physicallocation thatisexpected to be inoperationfor one yearorlonger.

Note thatyouremployeeshave therightto reviewyourinjury andillnessrecords.For more information, see29 Code ofFederalRegulationsPart1904.35, Caseslisted on the are notnecessarilyeligible for workers’compensationorother insurancebenefits.Listing a case on the doesnotmean thatthe employer

or worker wasatfaultorthatan OSHA standardwasviolated.

Whenis aninjuryor illnessconsidered work- related?

An injury orillnessis consideredwork- related ifaneventorexposurein theworkenvironment caused or contributed to the condition or significantly aggravateda preexisting condition.Work- relatednessispresumed forinjuriesand illnessesresultingfromeventsor exposuresoccurring in the workplace, unlessan exception specifically applies.See29 CFR Part1904.5( b) (2) fortheexceptions.The workenvironmentincludesthe establishmentandother

locationswhere one or more employeesare workingorare presentasa condition oftheir employment.See29 CFR Part1904.5( b) (1) .

Which work-related injuriesand illnesses should you record?

Recordthosework- related injuriesandillnessesthatresultin:

  • death,
  • lossofconsciousness,
  • daysaway fromwork,
  • restricted workactivity or jobtransfer,or
  • medical treatmentbeyond firstaid.

You mustalso recordwork- related injuriesandillnessesthatare significant(asdefined below)ormeetany oftheadditionalcriterialisted below.

Youmustrecordany significantwork-related injury orillnessthatisdiagnosedby aphysicianor other licensed health care professional.You mustrecordany work- related case involving cancer,chronicirreversibledisease,afractured or crackedbone,or apunctured eardrum.See 29 CFR1904.7.

WhataretheAdditionalCriteria?

You mustrecordthefollowing conditionswhen they are work- related:

  • anyneedlestickinjury or cutfroma sharpobjectthatiscontaminated with another person ’sblood orother potentially infectiousmaterial;
  • anycaserequiring an employeetobe medically removed undertherequirementsofanOSHAhealth standard;
  • tuberculosisinfection asevidencedby apositive skintestor diagnosisbyaphysician or otherlicensedhealth careprofessionalafterexposuretoa known caseofactive tuberculosis.

WhatisMedical Treatment?

Medicaltreatmentincludesmanaging and caring for apatientfor the purpose of combatingdiseaseor disorder.The following are not consideredmedical treatmentsandareNOTrecordable:

  • visitstoa doctor or health care professionalsolely for observationor counseling;
  • diagnosticprocedures,including administeringprescriptionmedicationsthatare used solely fordiagnosticpurposes;and
  • anyprocedure that can be labeled firstaid.

(See belowformore informationaboutfirstaid.)

Whatdoyouneed to do?

1.Within 7 calendardaysafteryou receiveinformation abouta case,decide ifthe caseisrecordableunder the OSHArecordkeeping requirements.

2.Determinewhethertheincidentisa newcaseora recurrence ofanexistingone.

3.Establish whether the casewaswork-related.

4.Ifthe case isrecordable,decidewhich formyou willfilloutastheinjury andillnessincidentreport.

You may use OSHA's301:Injury and IllnessIncidentReportoranequivalentform. Some stateworkerscompensation,insuranceorother reportsmaybe acceptable substitutes,aslong asthey provide the same informationastheOSHA301.

Howtoworkwith thelog

1.Identify the employee involved unlessitisa privacy concern case asdescribed below.

2.Identify whenandwhere the caseoccurred.

3.Describe the case,as specifically asyou can.

4.Classify the seriousnessofthe case by recordingthemostserious outcomeassociatedwith the case,with column J(other seriousrecordable cases)

beingtheleast seriousand column G(Death) being themost serious.

5.Identify whetherthe caseisan injuryorillness.Ifthe caseisan injury,checktheinjury category.Ifthe case isanillness,checktheappropriate illness category.

WhatisFirstAid

Iftheincidentrequiredonly the following typesoftreatment,consider itfirstaid.Do NOTrecord the caseifitinvolvesonly:

  • usingnon- prescription medicationsatnon-prescription strength;
  • administering tetanusimmunizations;
  • cleaning,flushing,or soakingwoundson the skin surface;
  • usingwound coverings,such asbandages,BandAids™,gauze pads,etc.,orusing SteriStrips™or butterfly bandages.
  • usinghotor cold therapy;
  • usingany totally non- rigid meansofsupport, suchaselasticbandages,wraps,non-rigidbackbelts,etc.;
  • usingtemporary immobilizationdeviceswhile transportingan accidentvictim( splints, slings,neckcollars,orbackboards) .
  • drillinga fingernailor toenailtorelievepressure,or drainingfluidsfromblisters;
  • usingeye patches;
  • using simple irrigation or a cotton swab to remove foreign bodiesnotembedded inor adhered to the eye;
  • usingirrigation,tweezers,cotton swab or other simple meanstoremove splintersor foreignmaterialfromareasother thantheeye;
  • usingfinger guards;
  • usingmassages;
  • drinking fluidstorelieveheat stress

Howdoyou decideif thecaseinvolved restricted work?

Restricted workactivity occurswhen,astheresultofa work-relatedinjury or illness,an employer or health care professionalkeeps,or recommends keeping, an employeefromdoing the routine functionsofhisorherjobor fromworkingthefullworkday thatthe employeewouldhavebeen scheduled to workbefore

theinjury or illnessoccurred.

Howdoyou count thenumber of days ofrestricted workactivityorthenumber ofdaysawayfrom work?

Countthenumber of calendar daystheemployee wason restricted workactivity orwasaway fromworkasa resultofthe recordable injury or illness.Do not

countthe dayonwhich the injury or illnessoccurred inthisnumber.

Begin countingdaysfromthe day aftertheincidentoccurs.Ifa singleinjury or illnessinvolvedboth daysaway fromworkanddaysofrestrictedworkactivity, enter the totalnumber ofdaysforeach.You may stop countingdaysofrestrictedworkactivity or daysawayfromworkonce the totalofeitheror the

combination ofboth reaches180days.

Under whatcircumstances should you NOT enter theemployee ’snameon the OSHAForm 300?

You mustconsider the following typesofinjuriesorillnessesto beprivacy concern cases:

  • an injuryorillnessto an intimate bodypartor to the reproductive system,
  • an injuryorillnessresultingfroma sexualassault,
  • a mentalillness,
  • a caseofHIVinfection,hepatitis,ortuberculosis,
  • a needlestickinjury or cutfroma sharpobjectthatiscontaminated with blood or otherpotentially infectiousmaterial( see 29 CFR Part1904.8for definition),and
  • other illnesses,iftheemployee independently and voluntarily requeststhathisorhername notbe entered onthe log.

You mustnotentertheemployee ’sname on the OSHA300Logforthese cases.Instead,enter "privacy case "in the space normally used for the employee ’sname.Youmust keepa separate, confidentiallistofthe casenumbersandemployee namesfor the establishment’sprivacy concern casessothatyou

canupdate the casesandprovideinformation to thegovernmentifasked to do so.

Ifyou have areasonable basistobelievethatinformationdescribing the privacy concern case may bepersonally identifiableeventhough theemployee ’s namehasbeen omitted,you may usediscretion in describing theinjury or illnessonboth the OSHA300and301forms.Youmustenterenough information

to identifythe cause ofthe incidentand the generalseverity oftheinjury or illness,butyou donotneed to includedetailsofan intimate or privatenature.

Whatif theoutcomechangesafter yourecord the case?

Iftheoutcome orextentofaninjury or illnesschangesafteryou have recorded the case,simply drawa line through the originalentryor,ifyouwish,deleteor white- outthe originalentry.Then write thenewentry where itbelongs.Remember,youneed to recordthe mostseriousoutcomefor each case.

Classifying injuries

An injury isany woundor damage to the body resulting froman eventin the workenvironment.

Examples:Cut,puncture,laceration,abrasion,fracture,bruise,contusion,chippedtooth,amputation,insectbite,electrocution, orathermal,chemical,electrical,orradiation burn.Sprainandstraininjuriesto muscles,joints,andconnectivetissues are

classifiedasinjurieswhentheyresultfroma slip,trip,fallorothersimilaraccidents.

Classifying illnesses

Skin diseasesordisordersSkin diseasesor disordersareillnessesinvolvingtheworker’s skinthatare caused by workexposure to chemicals,plants,or other substances.

Examples:Contactdermatitis,eczema,orrashcausedbyprimaryirritantsandsensitizersor poisonous plants;oilacne;

friction blisters,chrome ulcers;inflammationof the skin.

Respiratoryconditions

Respiratory conditionsare illnessesassociated with breathinghazardousbiologicalagents,chemicals,dust,gases,vapors,or fumesatwork.

Examples:Silicosis,asbestosis,pneumonitis,pharyngitis,rhinitis oracutecongestion;farmer ’s lung,berylliumdisease, tuberculosis,occupationalasthma,reactive airways dysfunctionsyndrome( RADS),chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease ( COPD),hypersensitivitypneumonitis,toxic inhalationinjury,suchas metalfume fever,chronic obstructivebronchitis,and

other pneumoconioses.

Poisoning

Poisoning includesdisordersevidenced by abnormalconcentrationsoftoxic substancesin blood,other tissues,otherbodily fluids,or thebreath thatare caused by the ingestion or absorptionoftoxic substancesintothe body.

Examples:Poisoningbylead,mercury,cadmium,arsenic,orother metals;poisoningbycarbon monoxide,hydrogensulfide,or

other gases;poisoningbybenzene,benzol,carbontetrachloride,orotherorganic solvents;poisoningbyinsecticide sprays, suchas parathionor leadarsenate;poisoningbyotherchemicals,suchasformaldehyde.

All otherillnesses

Examples:Heatstroke,sunstroke,heat exhaustion,heatstressandothereffectsof environmentalheat;freezing,frostbite,and othereffectsof exposuretolowtemperatures;decompressionsickness;effectsofionizingradiation( isotopes,x-rays,radium)

;effects ofnonionizingradiation(weldingflash,ultra-violet rays,lasers);anthrax;bloodborne pathogenic diseases,suchas AIDS,HIV,hepatitisB orhepatitis C;brucellosis;malignant orbenigntumors;histoplasmosis;coccidioidomycosis.

Whenmustyoupost the Summary?

You mustpostthe Summary only —notthe Log —by February 1 ofthe year following the year coveredbythe formand keep itposteduntil April30ofthat year.Howlong mustyou keepthe Log and Summary on file?

You mustkeep the Log andSummary for5 yearsfollowing theyear to whichthey pertain.

Doyou havetosend these formstoOSHAat theendof the year?

No.You donothaveto send the completedformstoOSHAunlessspecifically asked to do so.

Establish whether the case was work-related

Ifthe case isrecordable,decidewhich formyou willfilloutastheinjury andillnessincidentreport.You may use oranequivalentform.Some state workers

compensation,insurance,orother reportsmaybeacceptable substitutes,aslongasthey providethe same information asthe OSHA301.

Classify the seriousnessofthe case by recordingtheassociatedwith the case,with column J( Other recordable cases)beingthe leastseriousand column G ( Death) beingthemost serious.

TheOccupationalSafety and Health ( OSH) Actof1970 requires certain employerstoprepareandmaintain recordsofwork- related injuriesandillnesses.

Use these definitionswhenyou classify caseson the Log.OSHA’srecordkeepingregulation ( see29CFR Part1904)providesmoreinformation aboutthe

definitionsbelow.

CalculatingInjuryandIllnessIncidence

Whatisanincidence rate?

An incidence rateisthenumber ofrecordableinjuriesand illnessesoccurringamong agivennumber offull- timeworkers( usually 100full-timeworkers) over a givenperiod oftime ( usually one year) .To evaluateyourfirm’sinjury and illnessexperience over time or to compare your firm’sexperience withthatof your industryasawhole,youneed to compute your incidence rate.Because a specificnumberofworkersanda specificperiod oftime are involved,these rates can help you identify problemsin your workplace and/orprogressyoumay have made inpreventingwork-relatedinjuriesand illnesses.

Howdoyoucalculateanincidencerate?

You can computean occupationalinjury and illnessincidence rate forallrecordable casesor for casesthatinvolved daysaway fromworkforyourfirm quickly andeasily.Theformula requiresthatyoufollowinstructionsin paragraph (a)belowfor thetotalrecordable casesor thosein paragraph( b) for cases

thatinvolveddaysaway fromwork,andfor both ratesthe instructionsin paragraph( c) .

( a)To find outthetotalnumberofrecordable injuriesandillnessesthatoccurred during theyear,countthenumber ofline entrieson yourOSHA Form300, or refertothe OSHAForm300Aand sumthe entriesfor columns( G) ,( H),(I),and( J) .

( b)To find outthenumber ofinjuriesandillnessesthatinvolved daysaway fromwork, countthe number oflineentriesonyour OSHAForm300 that

received a checkmarkin column (H) ,orrefer to theentry for column( H)on theOSHA Form300A.

( c) The number ofhoursallemployeesactually worked duringthe year.RefertoOSHA Form300Aandoptionalworksheetto calculatethisnumber. You can computetheincidence rate forallrecordable casesofinjuriesand illnessesusingthe followingformula:

Totalnumberofinjuriesand illnesses÷Number ofhoursworked by allemployeesX200,000 hours=Totalrecordable caserate (The200,000figure inthe formula representsthe number ofhours100employeesworking 40 hoursperweek,50 weeksper yearwould work,andprovidesthe standard base for

calculating incidence rates.)

You can computetheincidence rate forrecordable casesinvolvingdaysaway fromwork,daysofrestrictedworkactivity or job transfer( DART) usingthe following formula:

( Number ofentriesin column H+Numberofentriesin columnI)÷Number ofhoursworkedbyallemployeesX200,000hours=DARTincidencerate

You can usethe same formula to calculate incidenceratesforother variablessuch as casesinvolving restricted workactivity( column (I)onForm300A) , casesinvolving skindisorders( column (M- 2) on Form300A),etc. Just substitute theappropriate totalfor these cases,fromForm300A,intothe formulain placeofthe totalnumber ofinjuriesandillnesses.

WhatcanIcompare myincidence rate to?

The Bureau ofLabor Statistics( BLS) conductsa survey ofoccupationalinjuriesand illnesseseachyear and publishesincidencerate databyvarious classifications( e.g.,by industry,by employer size,etc.).You canobtain these published data at orbycalling a BLSRegionalOffice. HowtoFill OuttheLog

The Log ofWork-Related Injuriesand Illnessesisused to classifywork-related injuriesand illnessesand to notetheextentand severity ofeach case.When an incidentoccurs,use the Log to record specificdetailsaboutwhathappened and howithappened.

Ifyour companyhasmore thanoneestablishmentor site,you must keep separaterecordsfor eachphysicallocation thatisexpected to remain in operation foroneyear or longer.Youdon’tpostthe Log.Youpostonly the Summary atthe end oftheyear.

The Summary —a separateform—showsthework- related injury andillnesstotalsfortheyearin each category.Atthe end ofthe year, countthe number

ofincidentsin each category andtransfer thetotalsfromthe to the Then postthein a visible location so thatyour employeesare awareofinjuriesand illnessesoccurring intheir workplace.

Revise the log ifthe injuryorillnessprogressesand theoutcomeismore seriousthan youoriginally recorded for the case.Crossout,erase,or white- outthe

originalentry.

Be as specificaspossible.You canuse two linesifyouneed more room.Notewhetherthe caseinvolvesan injury or anillness.Choose ONEofthese categories.Classifythe caseby recording themost seriousoutcome ofthe case,with column J(Other recordable cases) being the least seriousand column G(Death) being the most serious.

Checkthe "Injury "columnor choose one type ofillness:

Describe injuryor illness,partsof bodyaffected,and object/substance thatdirectlyinjured or made person ill

  • Skin disorders
  • Respiratoryconditions
  • Poisoning
  • Allotherillnesses

Injury

You mustrecordinformation aboutevery work- relateddeath and aboutevery work- related injury orillnessthatinvolveslossof consciousness,restricted workactivity or job,daysaway fromwork,or medical treatmentbeyond firstaid.Youmustalsorecord significantwork-relatedinjuriesand illnessesthatare diagnosedbyaphysician or licensed health care professional.You mustalso record work-related injuriesand illnessesthatmeetany ofthe specific recording criterialisted in29CFR Part1904.8 through 1904.12.Feel free to usetwolinesfor a single caseifyou need to.Youmust complete an Injury and IllnessIncidentReport(OSHA Form301) orequivalentformfor eachinjury or illnessrecorded onthisform.Ifyou’renotsure whether a case isrecordable, callyour localOSHAofficefor help.

Enterthe numberofdaystheinjured or illworker was:

  • Death
  • Daysaway fromwork
  • Other record- able cases
  • Jobtransfer or restriction
  • On job transferor restriction
  • Awayfromwork

Attention:Thisformcontainsinformation relating to employee health and mustbe usedin a mannerthatprotectsthe confidentiality ofemployeesto the extentpossible while theinformation isbeing usedforoccupationalsafety andhealth purposes.