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Many employers in the United States, including the Federal government, are required to maintain documentation on employee work-related injuries and illnesses. The documentation that must be maintained includes the following forms:

• OSHA 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report;
• OSHA 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses; and
• OSHA 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

An injury or illness is work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment caused or contributed to the employee’s injury or illness.

Injuries and illnesses that meet certain criteria are recorded on the OSHA forms listed above. These injuries and illnesses are referred to as an OSHA recordable incident.

An OSHA recordable incident is an injury or illness that is work-related and results in one or more of the following:

• Days away from work;
• Restricted work or transfer to another job;
• Medical treatment beyond first aid;
• Loss of consciousness;
• A significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional; or
• Death.

Refer to the chart (larger version available in PDF) to to determine which forms need to be completed.

Days Away from Work

Q. What does “days away from work” mean?

A. “Days away from work” means one or more calendar days that the employee was unable to work. The calculation for counting the number of days away from work begins the day after the injury or illness took place. Days away from work includes those days such as weekend days, holidays, or previously planned vacation days, if the healthcare physician states that the employee cannot work on those days. It does not matter if the employee was scheduled to work on those days or not.

Examples

Example A: While at the head station, Sally cut her hand. She left work early and went to the nearby clinic for medical treatment. She returned to work the next day.

Is this recordable?

No, it is not a recordable incident because Sally did not miss at least one day of work after the incident.

Example B: Tom parked his car in the parking lot of the district office and was walking into the office when he slipped and fell on ice. He injured his back and went home. His physician said he could not work for the next three days. Tom was only scheduled to work the following day and would have been on leave for the following two days.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable incident because Tom could not work because of his injured back. The OSHA log would reflect 3 days away from work; one regular work day and two scheduled days of leave.
 

Restricted Work or Transfer to another Job

Q. What does restricted work or transfer to another job include?

A. Restricted work means that FSIS management or a physician recommends that the injured or ill employee not perform at least one of his/her routine job duties. Transfer to another job means FSIS management assigned the employee to another job because of the injury or illness. The calculation for counting restricted work and/or transfer begins the day after the injury or illness took place.

Example: While working on the line at an establishment, Tom fell off an inspection stand and injured his arm. He went home early that day and saw his doctor. The next day he came to work with written guidance from his doctor to rest his arm and not perform his routine job functions. Instead of working on the line, his IIC had him help with paperwork to allow time for his arm to heal.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable event because Tom’s doctor suggested that Tom perform other job duties that are not normally part of his routine work duties.
 

Medical Treatment beyond First Aid

Q. What defines medical treatment beyond first aid?

A. OSHA defines first aid in very specific terms. The list of what first aid includes can be found on the FSIS ESHG intranet website at www.tinyurl.com/FSIS-ESHG under “OSHA Topics”. If the treatment is not included in the list of first aid, then the injury or illness is classified as medical treatment, and would be a recordable incident.

Example: Sally’s arm was sore due to the repetitive motion of her job duties on the line at the chicken establishment. She went to her doctor and he advised her to take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as Tylenol) but at a prescription dosage.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable incident. Even though the medication the doctor recommended was available over the counter without a prescription, the doctor prescribed Sally to take it at a prescription-level dose. Therefore, it does not meet the definition of first aid and instead is classified as medical treatment.
 

Significant Injury or Illness Diagnosis

Q. What is a significant injury or illness diagnosis?

A. This includes cancer, chronic irreversible diseases, fractured or cracked bones, and punctured eardrums

Example: Sally was working in her FSIS laboratory when she tripped over a box, fell, and cracked her collarbone. Her physician suggested that the bone would heal without additional medical treatment.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable incident because a broken or cracked bone meets the definition of an OSHA significant injury or illness diagnosis.
 

Loss of consciousness

Q. What if the employee lost consciousness for a couple of seconds?

A. It does not matter the length of time the employee lost consciousness. Any loss of consciousness is considered a recordable incident.

Example: Tom was returning to his station on the line after his morning break when, while walking in between two cow carcasses, the line jerked and Tom was struck, fell and hit his head on the floor. He was unconscious for a few seconds, but seemed to be OK afterwards.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable incident. Any time an employee loses consciousness the incident must be recorded on the appropriate OSHA form.
 

Death

Q. How do I know if a death is work-related or not?

A. A death is considered to be work-related if an event or exposure caused or contributed to the employee’s death.

Example: Tom was being given more and more responsibilities at work and reported that he was felt extremely stressed because of his job. One day at work, Tom suffered a heart attack and later died. His family told his FSIS IIC that the doctors believed that the stress at work contributed to his heart attack.

Is this recordable?

Yes, it is a recordable incident because OSHA investigated the incident and determined that it was work-related.

• Forms 300, 300A, 301 and Instructions
• Forms 300, 300A, 301 (Forms ONLY) - PDF Fillable Format
  (If you have trouble opening the form, right-click the link and save the file to your computer.)
• Additional formats and instructions are available from OSHA.

Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heat-related illnesses. If you experience any of the following symptoms, speak with your supervisor immediately:

• Heat exhaustion - heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, fainting and fatigue,
• Heat cramps - painful muscle spasms, 
• Heat rash - moist skin, itching, tingling and raised bumps.

In the most serious cases, exposure to heat can also cause heat stroke. This is a very dangerous condition and emergency services should be contacted immediately. Symptoms of heat stroke are:

• Dry, hot skin with no sweating. 
• High body temperature. 
• Rapid pulse and breathing.
• Irrational behavior or confusion.
• Convulsions and loss of consciousness.

A few simple steps can prevent heat-related illnesses:

1. Drink plenty of fluids, small amounts of water often, before you become thirsty.
2. Drink Agency-provided electrolyte replacement drinks.
3. Avoid heavy meals and hot foods.
4. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing to help air move over the skin surface.
5. If exertion in a hot environment makes your heart pound or makes it difficult to breathe, stop all activity.
6. Monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.

• The FSIS Environmental, Safety and Health Group has created a heat stress poster with important information. The poster can be downloaded from the FSIS safety intranet site at https://inside.fsis.usda.gov/fsis/emp/static/centerContent/fsisPage.jsp?keyword=HeatStress6553.
• For more information about heat stress, contact the Occupational Safety and Health Specialist (OSHS) for your district. 
• Heat Stress Illness Prevention Items List

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• OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses
  Whether there are recorded accidents or not, post only from February 1 to April 30 following the year reported. Must be kept on file for five years.
• Department of Labor Form CA-10, What A Federal Employee Should Do When Injured At Work
• FSIS Directive 4791.5, Hazard Communication Program: Attachment 1
  Signed by plant and IIC at every plant.

All Forms listed below can be accessed on the Forms page.

• FSIS Form 4792-1, In Case of Emergency
  Telephone Numbers: Post near phone; add prefix digits if needed for outside line, e.g., 9-911.
• FSIS Form 4791-2, FSIS Circuit Safety and Health Committee Report
• FSIS Form 4791-20, Record of Noise Exposures
  Update when changes are made in plant or office (all plants).
• FSIS Form 4791-21, FSIS Occupant Emergency Plan and Floor Plan, Map or Schematics Showing Exits and Exit Routes
  Refer to FSIS Directive 4791.6.(If processing plant with more than ten employees, a plant person who will check to make sure FSIS employees are out of the plant should be listed on the form.)
• FSIS Form 4791-23, Safety and Health Inspection Checklist. (Office)
  Updated annually in all plants.
• FSIS Form 4791-24, Safety and Health Inspection Checklist. (Plant)
  Updated annually in all plants.
• Lock-Out-Tag-Out Floor Plan or Schematic. (A Lock-Out-Tag-Out Cooperative Agreement should be on file, and a list of all machinery and energy sources should be on floor plan or schematics unless all machinery is cord and plug.)

• OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.95: Occupational Noise Exposure
• OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1020: Access to Medical and Exposure Records

• Hurricanes bring many hazards to coastlines and inland areas, including storm surge along the coast, inland flooding due to heavy rainfall, tornadoes, strong winds, rip currents and large waves.
• Do you live near the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts? Contact your local government/ emergency management office to find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area.

• For help visit https://www.ready.gov/plan.
• Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your plan.
• If anyone in your household is an individual with a disability identify if additional help may be needed during an emergency.
• You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane. Learn your evacuation routes and identify the best storm refuge available. If your community has shelters, verify now which will be open and operating during the pandemic.
• Discuss the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may affect your hurricane planning.

• Have enough supplies for your household, include medication, disinfectant supplies, cloth face coverings, pet supplies in your go bag or car trunk.

Have several ways to receive alerts.

• Download the FEMA app to receive alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Sign up for community alerts in your area.

• Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents like ID are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password protected digital space.

• Declutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture, consider hurricane shutters.

• Keep your cell phone charged when a hurricane is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.

• Make sure your supervisor has your current contact information and that your emergency contact information is up to date.
• Make sure you have current contact information for your supervisor and other coworkers you may need to contact.
  • Keep a hard copy of the information along with electronic copies.
• If you or your duty station is in the path of a hurricane communicate with your supervisor before the storm hits and report your status to your supervisor as soon as it is safe to do so after the storm passes. 

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