Employers across Wisconsin have trouble knowing when a work-related injury or illness must be recorded on OSHA’s Form 300, so the following will be a brief overview of what’s involved. First of all, OSHA requires all work-related fatalities to be reported within eight hours. Employers must also record any diagnoses of serious injuries or illnesses made by a medical professional.
Next, any injury or illness that results in victims losing consciousness, taking time off work, being transferred to a different job or operating under restrictions must be recorded. OSHA has specific guidelines for reporting incidents involving needlestick and sharp injuries, medical removal, hearing loss and TB infection.
Any incident where medical treatment beyond first aid is given must be recorded. This can cover, for example, the administration of a rabies vaccine, the use of sutures and staples to close wounds, the use of braces with rigid stays and the undergoing of physical therapy or chiropractic treatments.
First aid covers a number of treatments, such as the cleaning, soaking and bandaging of wounds; the use of hot or cold therapy; the use of non-rigid devices like elastic bandages; and tetanus immunizations. Non-prescription medication use at non-prescription strength also falls under first aid unless a medical professional recommends that it be used at prescription strength.
It’s not just employers who have a lot to think about after an injury. Victims themselves will likely be filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, and they may face certain challenges. For one thing, they may have benefits denied to them, in which case they would have to mount an appeal. There are also questions of how much in benefits they can receive based on whether they have a temporary or permanent disability. It’s highly recommended that victims see a lawyer for advice and guidance.
