Q006 - Simply Climbing Stairs

Question: 

The employee was walking up the stairs at work and felt a snap in their leg. The employee was not carrying anything work-related and was doing nothing more than walking up the stairs. Is it recordable?

Answer:

YES, probably. It is definitely work-related. It would be recordable if medical treatment, restricted work or lost time occurred. OSHA operates under a presumption of work-relatedness for any incident that occurs in the work environment. The work environment means anywhere the employee is as a condition of their employment. Climbing stairs is considered a part of a normal workday and is not listed as an exception under the OSHA recordkeeping guidelines. You could try to have a doctor make a determination of work-relatedness but if the workplace contributed to the injury in any way (even if not the sole or predominate cause) then it would still be recordable.

Federal Register

1904.5

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Q005 - Brambles

Question: 

An employee receives minor cuts and scrapes after falling into brambles at a job site. In an over-abundance of caution, a doctor prescribes antibiotics. Is it recordable?

Answer:

YES, antibiotics are considered medical treatment and therefore recordable, even when used as a precaution.

Federal Register

Letter of Interpretation

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Q004 - Tetanus Shot

Question: 

An employee steps on a nail at work. A doctor administers a tetanus shot but does not receive any additional treatment or instructions. Is it recordable?

Answer:

NO, administering tetanus immunizations are considered first aid and therefore this would not be recordable. (Other immunizations, such as Hepatitis B vaccine or rabies vaccine, are considered medical treatment.)

First Aid List

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