Face Mask Skin Infection
Question: An employee required to wear a mask develops a fungal infection on his skin around his mouth. A doctor prescribes ketoconazole, a prescription anti-fungal shampoo to treat it and releases him to full duty. Is it recordable?
Answer: YES. The infection is work-related because it resulted in wearing a mask at work and the prescription is considered medical treatment beyond first aid.
1904.5(a): Basic requirement. You must consider an injury or illness to be 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. Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment, unless an exception in ยง1904.5(b)(2) specifically applies