CONN-OSHA Answers Your Safety Questions: June 2023

Welcome to our monthly column featuring CONN-OSHA experts answering some of the most commonly asked safety questions from CBIA member companies.

Most of the responses from Catherine Zinsser, a CONN-OSHA occupational safety training specialist, will be on recordkeeping since that is the focus of most questions she fields.

But if you’d like to ask her a question on another topic, please email CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery.

He will treat all questions confidentially and never share any identifying company information with CONN-OSHA or anyone else.

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 Q: An employee was stung by a wasp on the job and given a prescription allergy shot. Is this recordable on OSHA Form 300?

A: Yes. A wasp sting in the work environment is a work-related injury. Administration of a prescription medication makes the case recordable.

Q: You don’t have to complete Forms 300-300a if you have less than 11 workers. Is this less than 11 permanent workers or do you count the temporary workers and those you didn’t keep after hiring and let go for that calendar year?

A: Each individual employed in the establishment at any time during the calendar year counts as one employee, including full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary workers. 

The small employer exemption for OSHA recordkeeping requirements is based upon the size of your entire company. 

If your entire company had 10 or fewer workers at all times during the previous calendar year, then you are exempt from OSHA’s Recordkeeping based upon the size of your company under section 1904.1 (partial exemption for employers with 10 or fewer employees).

Q: An employee was bitten by a tick and was seen by a doctor to ensure that the tick was completely removed.

The doctor gave the employee a single dose of antibiotic as a prophylaxis against Lyme disease. The employee was not ill or showing any symptoms. Is this recordable on the OSHA 300 log?

A: The case is recordable. Insect and animal bites that occur within the work environment are work-related injuries. 

The use of the prescription antibiotic makes the case recordable. The preventive, precautionary or prophylactic nature of a medication is not controlling for OSHA recordability.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery (860.244.1982).