First Aid Only Injuries: To Report Or Not To Report

by Greg Summerhays
October 29, 2009

Under Utah law, employers are required to report work-related injuries and illnesses when it results in death, loss of consciousness, loss of work, work restrictions, job transfer or medical treatment. The law also requires physicians and other healthcare providers to file a report with UOSH for any injured worker they are treating.

However, the law makes an exception for minor injuries that only require first aid treatment. But, what is considered a minor injury and what is considered first aid?

Definition of First Aid
According to UOSH, first aid treatments:
-Using a non-prescription medication at nonprescription strength (in a single dose).
-Tetanus immunizations.
-Cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin.
-Using wound coverings, such as bandages and gauze pads; or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips.-Using hot or cold therapy (hot or cold packs, contrast baths and paraffin only).
-Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, and non-rigid back belts.
-Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an injured employee (e.g., splints, slings, neck collars, back boards, etc.)
-Drilling a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister.
-Using an eye patch.
-Removing foreign bodies that are not embedded in or adhered to the eye using simple irrigation or a cotton swab.
-Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means.
-Using finger guards.
-Massages.
-Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

Another way to determine if an injury only required first aid treatment: consider who provided the care. If a non-medical person, or layman, provided the care and the injury does not pose a future complication, it is considered first aid and does not need to be reported. This is also the case if a free company clinic staffed by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional provided the care.

A caveat: if a physician or healthcare provider files a report with WCF or UOSH, or generates a bill for services rendered, even when the treatment is considered first aid, the employer must report the injury.

When to report an injury to WCF:
If an injury does not meet the definition of first aid or a healthcare provider charges the employer for the treatment, a claim must be filed with WCF. Report the injury as soon as possible, especially if it is serious.

Report any injury that may be a first aid only claim if there are questions or lingering doubts. A claim will establish a record for future reference should the employee need additional treatment or other benefits.

To file a claim, go online at wcfgroup.com, or call (801) 288-8285 or (800) 561-8008.

Reporting to the Utah Labor Commission and UOSH
Serious accidents that involve fatalities (including hear attacks), amputations, hospitalizations for heat or chemical burns and electrical shock, major bone fractures, or any injury involving unconsciousness must be reported to UOSH within eight hours.

All other injuries and illnesses, excluding first aid injuries, must be reported within seven days of the accident, the employer's knowledge of it, or the employee's notification of it. (If you file the claims online with WCF, we will submit it to UOSH for you.)

To report injuries and illnesses, call UOSH at (801) 530-6901 or (800) 530-5090 (in Utah only).

OSHA Form 300
Because Utah complies with Federal OSHA standards, most employers must maintain an OSHA Form 300, also called an OSHA Log. (Check with UOSH to determine whether you must maintain the form.) The recordkeeping standard has a few differences from the reporting requirements of UOSH and WCF.

For recordkeeping purposes, an illness or injury, which results in medical treatment beyond first aid, must be recorded on the form. Medical treatment does not include:
-First aid (see the above list).
-Visits to a physician or other licensed healthcare professional solely for observation or counseling.
-Diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays, blood tests, and administration of prescription medications, used solely for diagnostic purposes (e.g., eye drops to dilate pupils).

Injuries or illnesses that fall under these three conditions do not need to be recorded on the OSHA Form 300.

Resources
There are several resources available to you if you have questions regarding whether an injury or illness should be reported to WCF and UOSH, or recorded on an OSHA Form 300.

-WCF Claims Department and/or your claims adjuster(801) 288-8176 or (800) 446-2667 ext. 8176

-Utah Occupational Safety & Health (a division of the Utah Labor Commission)(801) 530-6901 or (800) 530-5090 (in Utah only)

-OSHA's Recordkeeping Webpagehttp://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html

(While Utah has its own occupational safety and health department, it complies with and enforces the federal standards in addition to any Utah-specific rules.

Greg Summerhays is Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach at Workers Compensation Fund. WCF offers ongoing safety training and UMA members are eligible for a 5% premium discount through a partnership with WCF. Visit www.wcfgroup.com for more information