When it comes to classifying injuries and illnesses, most tend to focus on OSHA recordability, such as whether the injury or illness is considered first aid, restricted duty, lost time, etc.
However, the most critical question many times overlooked is whether the injury or illness is actually work related.
According to OSHA Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness / Determination of Work-Relatedness 1904.5, an injury or illness may be considered work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness.
While work-relatedness would typically be presumed for injuries or illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment, there are exceptions which specifically apply and therefore deem the injury or illness non work related.
Is your organization recording injuries or illnesses that may actually be non-work related? Use the checklist to help you decide.
Holly is an ER nurse by trade, but loves content marketing. She was born outside the box and believes everything is better with “sprinkles and sparkles”. She is passionate about impacting lives and uses marketing as her platform for sharing practical solutions to address real life occupational health challenges.
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