OSHA reportable? recordability?
Need guidance. We had an employee that went to a contractor's site in another state to perform a test. While there he experienced chest pain. An ambulance was called and he was admitted to a hospital for further examination (MRI.) This employee has a pre-existing heart condition. The employee stayed at the hospital for 2 days to be monitored. Still trying to determine if this is work-related. Should this have been reported to OSHA due to inpatient hospitalization? Would this be considered an OSHA recordable?
Comments (5)
If he was admitted to the hospital for observation only (no treatment), then it's not considered recordable on that basis alone. However, you'd have to see if they gave him any prescription medications or other "medical treatment beyond first aid" to see if that would trigger the recordable criteria. If the in-patient hospitalization resulted from formal admission, then you have 24 hours from discovery (when you figured out that it met the "in-patient hospitalization" criteria) to report it to OSHA.
Drew is right on!
You do not have enough information to make any kind of decision. What kind of test and what was the work at the time he felt pain? What were the conditions? You need to get the hospital and the employee (or wife) on the phone, make sure the hospital knows you are the employer and you need medical information. A heart attack in the course of employment should be reported to OSHA within 24 hours. I would record it on the OSHA 300 initially, but work to line it out by getting medical info. If you suspect heart attack, by the letter of the law (29 CFR 1904), you probably should have told them what you knew.
If he was pounding a sledge-hammer in >85 degrees and/or inhaling a toxic substance, you may be stuck.
As a HR Manager I know they may tell you HIPPA applies, but not if it is in any way work-related. You do have a right in that case! If they tell you that the case is not related to his work you are safe that's all you need!
I think just calling and reporting a heart-attack probably will not tirgger an immediate CHSO visit like an amputation, unless the person was doing something extremely hazardous like working in extreme heat.