Is It Recordable?Helping a Non-Employee: is it recordable?
Question
An employee sees a beverage vendor vehicle stuck in the snow and ice in the company parking lot and goes out to help. While pushing the vehicle, the employee strains their back. A doctor prescribes muscle relaxers and physical therapy to the employee. Is it recordable?
Answer
YES. The employee was in the work environment during the normal workday when the incident occurred and there is no OSHA recordkeeping exception for assisting a non-employee. Therefore, the injury should be presumed to be work-related and recordable.
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 §1904.5(b)(2) specifically applies
