Encouraging and Utilizing Early Reports of Injury
Comprehensive injury reporting is important to the success of an ergonomic process. The goal of this effort is to properly assess, diagnose, and treat MSDs. Early reporting, diagnosis, and intervention can limit injury severity, improve the effectiveness of treatment, minimize the likelihood of disability or permanent damage, and reduce workers compensation claims. This will allow the employer to correctly identify work areas or specific tasks where injuries frequently occur or are most severe. This information helps direct the activities of the ergonomic team as well as to guide healthcare providers in making return-to-work and light-duty work decisions. OSHA’s injury and illness recording and reporting regulation (29 CFR Part 1904) require employers to record and report work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
The purpose of this rule (part 1904) is to require employers to record and report work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.
Note to § 1904.0: Recording or reporting a work-related injury, illness, or fatality does not mean that the employer or employee was at fault, that an OSHA rule has been violated, or that the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation or other benefits.
Encouraging and utilizing reports Reinforces worker training on recognizing MSD symptoms. It also encourages early reporting of MSD symptoms. This allows for prompt medical evaluations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
- Reinforces worker training on recognizing MSD symptoms.
- Encourages early reporting of MSD symptoms.
- Allows for prompt medical evaluations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
- Reduces injury severity, the number of workers’ compensation claims and associated costs and the likelihood of permanent disability.
- Provides guidance on return-to-work and work placement restrictions during the healing process.
- Guides job modifications.
- Provides a mechanism to track and trend MSD injuries.
- Enables assessment of the effectiveness of work changes.
Healthcare professionals are important ergonomic team members. They help injured workers recover more quickly and return to their jobs with appropriate restrictions and less risk for re-injury. It is necessary that these professionals are knowledgeable about the operations and work practices within the specific industry. Their knowledge will allow them to assist the injured worker during the healing process and in post-injury work placement.
