Recordable cases, OSHA definition

TABLE 8-1 OSHA Definitions Affecting Recordable Cases... 

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 requires certain employers to prepare and maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Use these definitions when you classify cases on the Log. OSHAs recordkeeping regulation (see 29 CFR Part 1904) provides more information about the definitions below. 

This value includes all company and contractor recordable injuries and illnesses using the definitions set forth in the instructional booklet entitled OSHA Forms for Recording Work Related Injuries and Illnesses for all employees that are assigned to the operator s OCS locations. It also includes restricted-activity cases that are associated with no-days-away-from-work incidents. 

When a physician/HCP recommends a job restriction meeting OSHA s definition, but the employee does all of his or her routine job functions an3rway, you still must record the injury or illness on the OSHA 300 Log as a restricted work case. If job restrictions are recommended, ensure that the employee complies with that restriction. If you receive recommendations from two or more physicians/HCPs, decide which recommendation is the most authoritative, and record the case based on that recommendation. 

A. Assuming the employer sent the employee home since there wasn t any restricted work available for the employee at the establishment, OSHA states, the final rule s restricted work provisions also clarify that work restriction must be imposed by the employer or be recommended by a health care professional before the case is recordable. Only the employer has the ultimate authority to restrict an employee s work, so the definition is clear that, although a healthcare professional may recommend the restriction, the employer makes the final determination of whether or not the health care professional s recommended restriction involves the employee s routine functions. 

Do you remember the Three Bears—not too hot, not too cold, and just right The Three Bears method holds true for recordability. Recordability is a balancing act (see Figure 3-1). Each case is different and each injury is unique. The principles behind recordability are meant to provide guidelines for separating serious injuries from nonserious injuries. Certain barometers are used as part of the definition of serious injury. Keep in mind that the term serious injury is in the eyes of OSHA and not in my eyes or the eyes of the medical professional. 

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