Recordkeeping Quiz: Are Flu Illnesses Recordable?
Scenario: Your business is in the middle of flu season and many employees are calling in sick. Two of the employees are claiming that they have been diagnosed by their doctors with the H1N1 flu. They say they contracted the flu at work from a co-worker who was also diagnosed with the H1N1. The two employees want you to record their illnesses because they say they got the flu at work.
Question: Are you required to record these flu related illnesses?
Answer: The OSHA standard states that the common cold or flu are not recordable. However, OSHA recently (Early December 2009) posted this statement on the very bottom of the Recordkeeping page of the OSHA website:
H1N1: Employers are responsible for recording cases of 2009 H1N1 illness if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) the case is a confirmed case of 2009 H1N1 illness as defined by CDC;
(2) the case is work-related as defined by 1904.5; and
(3) the case involves one or more of the recording criteria set forth in 1904.7 (e.g., medical treatment, days away from work). Per CPL-02-02-075.
Note: This recording criteria applies to all establishments covered by PART 1904.
