To be recordable, or not to be recordable, that is the question

• Death 

• Days away from work 

• Restricted work or job transfer 

• Medical treatment beyond first aid 

• Loss of consciousness 

• Significant injury or illness diagnosed by a licensed healthcare provider 

First aid is defined by specific criteria as well, and having a complete understanding of them will assist with accurate recording and serve mutually beneficial goals. Anything not included in the following list would necessitate the injury or illness being recorded. 

Here is how first aid is defined: 

• Cleaning or flushing wounds 

• Drilling a nail to relieve pressure or draining a blister 

• Drinking fluid for relief of heat stress  

• Hot or cold therapy 

• Nonrigid supports or wraps (including supports with rigid stays removed) 

• Removing foreign bodies from eyes using only irrigation or cotton swab 

• Removing splinters or foreign material from skin via irrigation, tweezers, or other simple means 

• Temporary immobilization devices used for transport (splints, slings, neck collars, or back boards) 

• Tetanus immunizations 

• Use of eye patches 

• Use of finger guards 

• Use of massages  

• Use of nonprescription medications at nonprescription strengths 

• Wound coverings (including Steri-Strips™) 

Additional guidance  

• Days from work: Begin the count the day after the injury occurred.  

• Scheduled time off, weekends, holidays, or company closures are only included in days from work if the employee was placed on work restrictions by a licensed healthcare provider. 

• Transferring the employee to a different job counts as recordable if the employee completes a job task at least once a week that can be considered part of their job duties and not a job transfer. 

• Medical treatment does not include a visit to healthcare provider for observation or counseling, conduct of diagnostic procedures (X-rays, blood tests, medications used for diagnostic purposes such as eye-dilating drops), or first aid as defined above. 

Determining whether a workplace injury is recordable often comes down to one key question: Did the injury require medical treatment beyond first aid? While OSHA's requirements can seem complicated, understanding the basics can make the process much clearer. When questions arise, employers should work closely with occupational health providers and safety professionals to ensure injuries are evaluated and documented appropriately. Accurate reporting benefits everyone by helping create safer workplaces and ensuring employees receive the care they need.