Many employers have questions on OSHA’s recordkeeping necessities – and the standards for recordability – relating to COVID-19.
That is very true when making an attempt to find out whether or not a case is work-related.
Below the company’s recordkeeping necessities, COVID-19 is a recordable sickness, which implies employers are accountable for recording circumstances of COVID-19 if the case:
- Is confirmed to be COVID-19.
- Is work-related, as outlined by 1904.5.
- Includes a number of of the overall recording standards set forth in 1904.7.
First, the case should be a confirmed as COVID-19. This implies the worker should check constructive utilizing one of many testing strategies accredited by the Meals and Drug Administration.
Subsequent, the case should be work-related, as outlined by 1904.5. In keeping with the regulation, “work-related” implies that an occasion or publicity within the work environment both brought on or contributed to the ensuing situation or considerably aggravated a preexisting damage or sickness. Work-relatedness is presumed for accidents and sicknesses ensuing from occasions or exposures occurring within the work environment, until an exception in 1904.5(b)(2) particularly applies (see 1904.5).
OSHA defines the work environment as “the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. The work environment includes not only physical locations, but also the equipment or materials used by the employee during the course of his or her work.”
Lastly, the case entails a number of of the overall recording standards set forth in 1904.7, as follows:
“You must consider an injury or illness to meet the general recording criteria, and therefore to be recordable, if it results in any of the following: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. You must also consider a case to meet the general recording criteria if it involves a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.”