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Recordable injury or illness

A work-related case that results in death, days away, restricted work or transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, or a significant diagnosis.

Definition, in the source's words

29 CFR 1904.7(a)(opens ecfr.gov in a new tab)
“You must consider an injury or illness to meet the general recording criteria, and therefore to be recordable, if it results in any of the following: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. You must also consider a case to meet the general recording criteria if it involves a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.”

What it means

A case must be work-related and new before these criteria matter. The line between medical treatment and first aid decides most exam questions, because first aid is a complete list in 1904.7(b)(5)(ii).

Example

A worker cuts a hand and the clinic closes it with sutures: medical treatment, so it's recordable. Had the cut been closed with butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips only, it would be first aid and not recordable on that basis.

Where it appears on the exam

Questions

Does seeing a doctor make a case recordable?
No. A visit solely for observation or counseling, or for diagnostic procedures, isn't medical treatment. What makes a case recordable is the outcome: medical treatment beyond first aid, days away, restriction and so on.

Related

Checked 2026-10-16. Spot a problem? Email hello@passcited.com.

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