OSHA Recordkeeping Quiz #8
OSHA Recordkeeping Quiz #8Scenario: One of your employees suffered a very serious broken leg due to an accident at work. She had surgery and is in rehabilitation. Her physician cannot give a definite date or even an estimate of when she will be able to return to work. She may be out of work for many months, but is expected to fully recover and be able to work in her job again.
Question: Is there a maximum number of days that should be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log for cases such as this one?
Answer: The maximum number of calendar days to be recorded for any injury or illness is 180. This includes days away from work and/or days of job transfer or restriction.
29 CFR 1904.7 (b) (3) (vii) states: Is there a limit to the number of days away from work I must count?
Yes, you may “cap” the total days away at 180 calendar days. You are not required to keep track of the number of calendar days away from work if the injury or illness resulted in more than 180 calendar days away from work and/or days of job transfer or restriction. In such a case, entering 180 in the total day’s away column will be considered adequate.
For further clarification regarding this area of recordkeeping, we should consider another scenario. Your employee has been away from work due a work-related injury for 100 calendar days. The employee is then allowed to return to work on restrictions that will last for more than 80 calendar days. Since the total time for both days away from work and days of restricted work will exceed 180 calendar days, the days in both columns may be combined and you can quit counting once they reach 180 days.
