Is It Recordable?
Scenario Q185

Bring Your Pet to Work 2: is it recordable?

Verdict: Recordable
Published 2021-06-20

Question

During a bring your pet to work day, one employee brought a pet hamster to the office. The hamster bit his ear while he was showing him off and later was found dead in his office. An autopsy found he had a bad reaction to a protein in the hamster's saliva that brought a fatal case of anaphylaxis.

Answer

YES. There is no exception for injuries caused by animals (even pets) at work.

1904.5(a)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 How to Report a Fatality

Illustration for the scenario: Bring Your Pet to Work 2

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Illustration for the scenario: Bring Your Pet to Work 2
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This is guidance based on 29 CFR Part 1904 and OSHA letters of interpretation. Facts and details may be altered or fictional. As specified by OSHA, the employer is responsible for the final recordability determination.