A workplace injury is harm to an employee that comes from their work or work environment. What happens next depends on how serious it is: some must be reported to OSHA within hours, many must be logged, and most go through workers’ compensation.
| Track | What it requires | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA severe injury report | Report fatalities, in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and eye loss to OSHA | Fatality: 8 hours. The others: 24 hours |
| OSHA recordkeeping | Record work-related injuries that meet the recording criteria on OSHA logs | As the case occurs. Employers with 10 or fewer employees all last year are partially exempt |
| Workers’ compensation | Report to the insurer or state program and follow its process | Set by the state and insurer |
The small-employer exemption covers keeping the logs, not the reporting duty. OSHA’s own page says employers who are exempt from routinely keeping records because of size or industry must still report the severe incidents above. See OSHA Form 300 and OSHA Form 301.
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At 2:40 a.m. on a Wednesday, a picker falls from a step stool and breaks his wrist. A coworker drives him to the emergency room, where he is treated and sent home the same night. He is not admitted, so this is not an in-patient hospitalization, and the 24-hour OSHA report does not apply. It is still a recordable case for an employer that keeps OSHA logs, because it involves treatment beyond first aid.
The shift lead writes an incident report before the end of the shift, with the time from the clock record. HR reports the claim to the workers’ compensation insurer the next morning. The picker is off for nine days. The time records show exactly which shifts he missed, which the insurer asks for when calculating lost wages.
The return to work is part of handling an injury. Stay in touch while the employee is off, follow the treating provider’s restrictions, and offer modified duty that fits them if you have it. Record restricted days and days away accurately, because they matter for OSHA records where they apply and for the workers’ compensation claim.
When the employee is cleared, confirm the restrictions in writing, schedule them only on tasks that fit, and check in after the first few shifts. A return that ignores restrictions risks a second injury.
A line cook burns his forearm at 11:15 a.m. The manager sends him to an urgent care clinic, where he is treated and returns at 1:30 p.m. with a note restricting him from the fryer for a week.
Time spent receiving medical attention during working hours at the employer’s direction is generally hours worked, so he is paid from 11:15 to 1:30. He finishes the shift on prep, and the manager schedules him on prep and the grill for the week. The incident report is written before he leaves, and the clinic visit is reported to the workers’ compensation insurer the same day.
Any injury caused or made worse by work activities or the work environment. Whether it is recordable on OSHA logs depends on criteria such as medical treatment beyond first aid, days away or restricted work.
A work-related fatality within 8 hours, and an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours.
Employers with 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year are partially exempt from keeping the logs, but they must still report severe injuries.
Usually workers’ compensation insurance, which for most private employers is governed by state law. Contact your state’s workers’ compensation board for the rules where you operate.
Generally, time spent waiting for and receiving medical attention during normal working hours at the employer’s direction is hours worked.
Temporary work that fits the employee’s medical restrictions, such as lighter tasks or fewer hours, until they can return to their regular job.
Time off requests, approvals and the schedule sit side by side, so coverage gaps show up before the week starts.