1. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses 29 CFR Part 1904 and COMAR 09.12.21 1

2. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 2 This presentation is derived from publically available training materials developed by OSHA’s Office of Training and Education. It has been edited for content to focus on proper identification of recordable injuries. The number of illness and injury scenarios has been increased to give the student more practical experience and the examples have been set in a school environment. The materials are intended to improve workplace health and safety, but do not provide instruction on all that is necessary to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. This information must be understood as an instructional tool, rather than an exhaustive statement of City Schools’ legal obligations, which are defined by statutes, regulations, standards and policies. Over time, OSHA may modify rules and interpretations. To keep apprised of new information please visit www.osha.gov. Please contact Baltimore City Public Schools, Dept. of Health & Safety at 443-984-8679 for more information.

3. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 3 Rationale Behind the Rule: Rationale Behind the Rule: Preventing injuries and illness in the workplace Employers: make management more aware of the causes & types of injuries. Safety Inspectors: provide a source of information during inspections. Bureau of Labor & Statistics: chart the nature and magnitude of workplace injury and illness nationwide; identify trends.

4. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 4 Do all Fatalities, Injuries and Illnesses get Recorded? NO–record only those that are: work related, and new Cases, and meet one or more of the general or specific criteria contained in the regulation.

5. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 5 Requirements of the Rule Recording or reporting a work related injury, illness, or fatality does not mean: the employer or employee was at fault, an OSHA/MOSH rule has been violated, or that the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation or other benefits.

6. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 6 NOT RELATED TO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION OSHA/MOSH injury and illness recordkeeping and workers’ compensation laws are independent of each other.

7. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 7 FIVE STEP PROCESS

8. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 8 Did the employee experience an injury or illness? Is the injury or illness work-related? Is the injury or illness a new case? Does the injury or illness meet the general criteria or the specific criteria for a case? RECORD THE INJURY OR ILLNESS YES

9. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 9 An injury or illness is an abnormal condition or disorder. Injuries such as a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation. Illnesses include both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, a skin disease, or respiratory disorder. STEP 1: Did the employee experience an injury or illness?

10. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 10 Scenario A: An administrative assistant reports to nurses’ station with complaint of painful wrists. Employee given 2 Advil ® and returned to job. Answer: Go on to the next step. Painful wrists was the injury experienced. STEP 1: Did the employee experience an injury or illness? Stop here – there is no injury/illness OR Go on – an injury/illness has occurred OR Can’t say - need more information

11. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 11 Scenario B: There is a chemical spill in a high school science lab and two teachers in the area are taken to the Mercy Clinic. They are told to stay home the next day as a precautionary measure. Stop here – there is no injury/illness OR Go on – there has been an injury/illness OR Can’t say - need more information Answer: We need more information. Did the either employee exhibit signs or symptoms of an injury/illness? So far, we have an event or exposure only. STEP 1: Did the employee experience an injury or illness?

12. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 12 Did the employee experience an injury or illness? YES Is the injury or illness work-related?

13. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 13 You must consider an injury or illness to be work-related if, an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the injury or illness or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness. Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment unless an exception specifically applies. STEP 2: Is the injury or illness work-related?

14. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 14 What is the Work Environment? The work environment is defined as the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or present as a condition of employment.

15. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 15 What is Significant Aggravation? A pre-existing injury or illness is significantly aggravated when an event or exposure in the work environment results in any of the following (which otherwise would not have occurred):  Death  Loss of consciousness  Days away, days restricted or job transfer  Medical treatment

16. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Winton Jazz Trio Johnson High School Friday, September 7 th, 8 p.m. 16 Exceptions Employee is present as a member of the general public. Symptoms surface at work but result solely from a non-work- related event or exposure that occurs outside the workplace.

17. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 17 Voluntary participation in wellness program, medical, fitness or recreational activity. Eating, drinking or preparing food or drink for personal consumption.Exceptions

18. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 18 Exceptions Personal grooming, self medication for non-work- related condition, or intentionally self-inflicted. Personal tasks outside assigned working hours. Common cold or flu.

19. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 19 Exceptions Motor vehicle accident in parking lot/access road during commute. Mental illness, unless employee provides a medical opinion from a physician or licensed health care professional (PLHCP) having appropriate qualifications and experience that affirms work-relatedness.

20. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 20 Travel Status An injury or illness that occurs while an employee is on travel status is work-related if it occurs while the employee is engaged in work activities in the interest of the employer. For example, an injury experienced from a slip or fall on the lecture room floor during a conference is work- related.

21. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 21 Travel Status When travelling, upon check-in, the employee establishes a “home away from home” at his/her hotel. A slip in the hotel shower is therefore not work- related. A detour for personal reasons is also not work- related.

22. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 22 Work at Home Performing work for pay from one’s home means that one’s normal duty hours are spent at home. Taking work home, e.g., grading tests in the evening, is not “work at home” for OSHA purposes.

23. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 23 Stop here – not work-related OR Go on – work-related OR Can’t say – need more information Scenario A: A custodian gives blood at voluntary employer-sponsored blood drive and passes out (loss of consciousness). Answer: Stop here. The injury or illness results solely from voluntary participation in a wellness program or in a medical, fitness, or recreational activity such as blood donation, physical examination, flu shot, exercise class, racquetball, or baseball. STEP 2: Is the injury or illness work-related?

24. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 24 Scenario B: A Para-professional sprains an ankle in the school parking lot on his way in to work. Stop here – not work-related OR Go on – work-related OR Can’t say – need more information Answer: Go on. There is no exception that applies. Parking lot exception is only for vehicle accidents.lot exception applies only to motor vehicle accidents during commute. STEP 2: Is the injury or illness work-related?

25. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 25 Scenario C: To catch up on some work, a teacher decides to stop by school on Saturday, employee’s day off. The employee knows the building will be open, because Mr. Jones’ drama club is practicing for a play. She slips and falls in hallway, breaking her arm. Stop here – not work-related OR Go On – work-related OR Can’t say - need more information Answer: Stop, there is an exception. The injury or illness is solely the result of an employee doing work at school outside of the employee’s assigned working hours. STEP 2: Is the injury or illness work-related?

26. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 26 Did the employee experience an injury or illness? Is the injury or illness work-related?Is the injury or illness a new case? YES

27. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 27 Determination of a new case Consider an injury or illness a “new case” if the employee has not previously experienced a recorded injury or illness of the same type that affects the same part of the body, OR the employee did previously experience such a recorded injury or illness but had completely recovered (all signs and symptoms had disappeared) and an event or exposure in the work environment caused the signs or symptoms to reappear. STEP 3: Is the injury or illness a new case?

28. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 28 Determination of New Cases If signs and symptoms of a chronic work-related illness recur even in the absence of exposure, it is not a new case (e.g., tuberculosis, asbestosis). If an exposure in the work environment triggers the recurrence, it is a new case (e.g., asthma, rashes). If there is a medical opinion regarding resolution of a case, the employer must follow that opinion.

29. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 29 Stop here – previously recorded case OR Go On – new case OR Can’t say - need more information Scenario A: Five weeks ago, a cafeteria manager sprained her wrist at work and received support, prescription medication, and a “no lifting” work restriction. Two weeks ago employee was back on normal job and completely recovered. Today (7 weeks after the injury) employee complains of pain in same wrist after moving boxes. Answer: Go on. The employee had completely recovered from the previous injury and a new event or exposure occurred in the work environment. STEP 3: Is the injury or illness a new case?

30. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 30 Scenario B: Four weeks ago, a teacher sprained his ankle at work and was given prescription medication, and routine duties were modified. Two weeks ago, employee was back on normal job, but continued to take prescription medication. Today (5 weeks after the injury) employee complains of pain in same ankle after moving boxes. Stop here – previously recorded case OR Go On – new case OR Can’t say - need more information Answer: Stop. The employee had not completely recovered from the previous injury or illness. Prescription medication is still being taken—he is still under a doctor’s care. Update the previously recorded entry, if necessary. STEP 3: Is the injury or illness a new case?

31. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 31 Scenario C: Athletic Director fractures foot at work. Every six months or so it bothers him and he is placed on a work restriction for a day or two by the Mercy Clinic. Stop here – previously recorded OR Go On – new case OR Can’t say - need more information Answer: We need more information. Was the employee completely recovered from the first injury? If no, stop. If yes, was there a new event or exposure in the work environment? STEP 3: Is the injury or illness a new case?

32. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 32 Did the employee experience an injury or illness? Is the injury or illness work-related?Is the injury or illness a new case? Does the injury or illness meet the general criteria or the specific criteria for a case? YES

33. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 33 General Criteria: An injury or illness is meets the general criteria if it results in: Death Days away from work Restricted work activity Transfer to another job Medical treatment beyond first aid Loss of consciousness Significant injury or illness diagnosed by a PLHCP (even if it does not result in circumstances above) Step 4: Does the injury or illness meet the general criteria or the specific criteria?

34. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 34 Death Record any work-related fatality. Report any workplace fatality to MOSH within 8 hours–even if it does not appear to be work-related. MOSH will decide whether to investigate.

35. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 35 Days Away From Work Record if the case involves one or more days away from work. Do not include the day of injury/illness even if the employee does not return to work that day. If a medical opinion exists, employer must follow that opinion – can’t require employee to work.

36. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 36 Restricted Work Cases Restricted work activity occurs when:  the employer keeps the employee from performing routine job functions or from working the full workday, or  a PLHCP recommends the employee refrain from performing routine job functions or from working the full workday. Routine job functions are those activities the employee regularly performs at least once per week.

37. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 37 Restricted Work Cases If a PLHCP recommends a restriction, employer must follow that opinion – can’t require employee to perform restricted work. If the recommendation is vague, e.g., “light duty X 2 weeks”, the employer must ascertain what duties can be safely performed considering the totality of the circumstances.

38. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 38 Restricted Work Cases Record if the case involves one or more days of restricted work. Do not include the day of injury/illness even if the employee cannot perform routine job functions that day. You should ensure that the employee complies with the restriction.

39. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 39 Job Transfer Injured/ill employee is assigned to a job other than his or her regular job. Injured/ill employee performs his or her routine job duties for part of a day and is assigned to another job for part of the day.

40. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 40 Medical Treatment prescribing medications, re-setting bones, surgical operations, physical therapy Medical treatment is the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. It includes (but is not limited to :

41. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 41 Medical Treatment It does not include: visits to a PLHCP (Mercy Clinic) solely for observation or counseling, diagnostic procedures such as X- rays, MRIs, or blood tests, or first aid.

42. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 42 First Aid Exception Using nonprescription medication at nonprescription strength. Tetanus immunizations. Hot or cold therapy. Wound coverings, butterfly bandages, Steri-Strips. Cleaning, flushing, or soaking surface wounds.

43. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 43 First Aid Exception Removing foreign bodies from eye using irrigation or cotton swab. Non-rigid means of support. Temporary immobilization device used to transport accident victims. Drilling of fingernail or toenail, draining fluid from blister. Eye patches.

44. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 44 First Aid Exception Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means. Finger guards. Massages. Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

45. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 45 Loss of Consciousness All work-related cases involving loss of consciousness must be recorded.

46. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 46 Significant Diagnosed Injury or Illness The following work-related conditions must be recorded at the time of diagnosis by a PLHCP:  Cancer  Chronic irreversible disease  Punctured eardrum  Fractured or cracked bone or tooth

47. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 47 Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Record all work-related needlesticks and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person’s blood or other potentially infectious material (includes human bodily fluids, tissues and organs; other materials infected with HIV or HBV such as laboratory cultures).

48. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 48 Forms _______________

49. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 49 City Schools Employee Incident Report IF EMPLOYEE IS SENT TO CLINIC: Complete all portions of this form before sending employee to Clinic. Remove “ Agency Copy” for files. Send remaining copies with employee to clinic. IF EMPLOYEE IS SENT TO HOSPITAL: Complete all portions of this form immediately after sending employee to the nearest medical facility for treatment. Remove “Agency Copy” for files. Send remaining copies to Clinic. NOTE; “AGENCY COPY” REQUIRES ADDITIONAL ACTION AFTER REMOVAL!

50. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 50

51. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 51 Discharge Instructions Employee will be given discharge instructions indicating whether the employee is able to work or is placed on a work restriction. Employees are required to provide the supervisor with a copy of the discharge instructions.

52. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 52

53. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 53 Employers must enter each recordable case on the OSHA 300 Injury Log within 7 calendar days of receiving information that a recordable case has occurred. Unknown information, such as total days away from work may be updated later when that information becomes known. OSHA Form 300, Log of Work- Related Injuries and Illnesses

54. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 54 Counting Days Away/Days Restricted Check the box for days away cases and enter the number of calendar days that the employee is away, restricted or transferred. Enter an estimate if you are not sure—this can be updated later.

55. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 55 Counting Days Away/Days Restricted Cap day count at 180 days away and/or days restricted. May stop the count if employee leaves company for a reason unrelated to the injury or illness.

56. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 56  If a case occurs in one year but results in days away/restriction during the next calendar year only record the injury or illness once.  If the days extend into the next year, estimate the total number of calendar days away/restriction and use that number for the annual summary.  Update the initial log entry later when the day count is known or reaches the 180-day cap. Counting Days Away/Days Restricted

57. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 57

58. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 58 Records can be kept on a computer as long as they can be produced when they are needed. Must provide copies of the records to government agencies within 4 business hours. Recordkeeping

59. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 59 Privacy Protection Do not enter the name of an employee on the OSHA Form 300 for “privacy concern cases.” Enter “privacy case” in the name column. Keep a separate confidential list of the case numbers and employee names.

60. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 60 Privacy Protection Privacy concern cases are:  an injury or illness to an intimate body part or reproductive system,  an injury or illness resulting from sexual assault,  mental illness,  HIV infection, hepatitis, tuberculosis,  needlestick and sharps injuries that are contaminated with another person’s blood or other potentially infectious material, and  illness cases where the employee voluntarily requests to keep name off.

61. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 61 Privacy Protection Employer may use discretion in describing other aspects of the case if employee can be identified. For example: o You omit the name of the employee, and the nature of the injury, but describe the job title as “teacher” and the location as “Room 106.” o All staff know that Room 106 is used exclusively by the Art teacher, Ms. Doe.

62. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 62 Privacy Protection If you give the forms to people not authorized by the rule, you must remove the names first Exceptions for:  Auditor/consultant  Workers’ compensation or other insurance  Public health authority or law enforcement agency

63. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 63 OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses In January each year, OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Illnesses and Injuries must be completed. The 300A Summary must be posted by February 1st where it can be easily seen by employees. Note: Be cautious. Never post the OSHA Form 300.

64. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 64

65. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 65 Completing the OSHA Form 300A Summary Review previous OSHA Form 300 entries for completeness and accuracy: update and correct deficiencies. Calculate average number of employees and total hours worked and enter this information under “Employment Information” (other categories will appear automatically). Print the Summary. Certify the Summary—a company executive, (in schools, the principal) must ensure accuracy and sign the Summary. Post the Summary for the 3-month period from February 1 to April 30 of the year following the year covered in the Summary.

66. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 66 Calculating Total Employees Example: There are 48 employees assigned to #102 Hudson Elementary School—but they don’t all work year-round. Forty-five (45) are 10-month employees: They work the last weeks in August through the first weeks in June the following year (22 pays) Three (3) are 12-month employees: They work January through December (26 pays) 48 x 22 =1056 (everyone gets 22 pays) 3 x 4 = 12 (only 3 get the extra 4 pays) 1068 (total number of pays for all employees) 1068 (total pays) ÷ 26 (yearly pays) = 41.07 Round to the nearest number = 41 total average employees

67. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 67 Calculating Total Hours Worked Example: There are 48 employees assigned to #102 Hudson Elementary School—but they don’t all work year- round. 12-month: 3 employees 3 x 2,000 hrs annually = 6,000 10 Month: 45 employees 45 X 1,750 hrs annually = 78,750 Total 84,750 hrs

68. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 68 Retention and Updating Retain all forms/records for 5 years following the year that they cover. Update OSHA Form 300 entries during that period if new information becomes available. Need not update the OSHA Form 300A Summary.

69. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 69 Employee Involvement Must set up a system for reporting and must inform each employee of how to report an injury or illness.

70. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 70 Employee Involvement Must provide limited access to injury and illness records to employees, former employees; their personal representatives (i.e., attorneys) and authorized representatives (i.e., union representatives).  Provide copy of OSHA Form 300 by end of next business day.  May not remove names from OSHA Form 300.

71. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 71 Employee Involvement Provide copies of all Employee Incident Reports to authorized employee representative (under collective bargaining) within 7 calendar days. Note: You are only required to give information about the case, personal information must be removed/blocked.

72. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 72 Prohibition Against Discrimination Cannot discriminate against an employee for reporting a work-related fatality, injury or illness, filing a safety and health complaint or asking for access to the records.

73. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 73 Fatality/Catastrophe Reporting Report orally within 8 hours any work-related fatality or any incident involving 3 or more in- patient hospitalizations to MOSH Central Office. Do not need to report highway or public street motor vehicle accidents (outside of construction zone). Do not need to report commercial airplane, train, subway or commercial bus accidents Report fatal heart attacks by calling MOSH Central Office–MOSH will decide whether to investigate.

74. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 74 KNOWLEDGE CHECK Please decide for each scenario whether the case is: Recordable Not Recordable or you Need More Information

75. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: first-aid exception 1.While grading tests, a teacher cuts his hand on the sharp metal edge of a desk. The injury is cleaned, antiseptic is applied and the wound is bandaged. 75

76. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: general criteria— medical treatment other than first aid (prescription issued by Mercy). 2.The teacher in 1 (previous slide) complains of pain and swelling 3 days after the original injury. He reports to Mercy clinic and is given antibiotics to combat an infection that has developed. 76

77. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: first-aid exception. 3.A grounds crew worker gets particles of dry leaves in his eye while trimming trees. The school nurse assists him in rinsing the particles from his eye and recommends that he wear an eye patch for several days. 77

78. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: personal consumption exception does not apply because employee was walking, not consuming food. 4.A cafeteria worker slips and falls on spilled water in the cafeteria during her lunch break. She is taken to the Mercy ER where she is diagnosed with cracked vertebrae and given 3 weeks off from work and 4 weeks of restricted duty when she returns. 78

79. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Need More Information: an X-ray is only a diagnostic procedure. 5.A principal is rushing to the scene of a student disturbance. In doing so, she trips on the stairs and twists her ankle. X-rays are taken. 5.A principal is rushing to the scene of a student disturbance. In doing so, she trips on the stairs and twists her ankle. X-rays are taken. 79

80. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: specific criteria— broken bone. 6.A school police officer responding to the same incident in 5 (above) is accidentally struck by a student while attempting to separate them. His nose is broken. He reports to Mercy clinic where the injury is taped and he returns to work. 80

81. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: this is only an exposure. Note: if the teacher later develops a blood borne illness as a result of the exposure, it would then be recordable. 7.An elementary school teacher assists a child who is experiencing a nosebleed. In doing so she gets a small amount of blood on her hand. In washing her hands she realizes the blood landed on an area of broken skin. 81

82. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: cold & flu exception. 8.Several students in classroom 105 have contracted the H1N1 flu virus and have missed a number of school days as a result. The teacher in 105 has now been diagnosed with H1N1 flu and is ordered by his doctor to remain at home for at least 24 hours after his fever has ended. 82

83. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: medical treatment other than first aid. Even if the employee does not take the proper dosage of the prescription, she is still under a doctor’s care. 9. An administrative assistant has work-related elbow pain. She reports to the Mercy clinic and is given a prescription for 800 mg Motrin ® to be taken as needed. Instead of filling the prescription and paying her $15 dollar co-pay, the employee uses generic ibuprofen in the non- prescription dosage recommended on the label. 83

84. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: medical treatment other than first aid (tweezers may only be used on other parts of the body to be considered first aid). 10.A metal-shop teacher gets a small shard of metal in his eye while cleaning up after a class. He reports to the Mercy clinic where the shard is easily and quickly removed using only a pair of tweezers. He misses no work. 84

85. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Need More Information: is lifting more than 25 pounds within her routine job duties? 11.A teacher trips over a projector cord and strikes her forearm sharply against a student desk. There is no fracture however, there is significant pain and bruising (particularly to her ego). Mercy Clinic places her on a “no lifting more than 25 pounds” work restriction for seven days. 85

86. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: voluntary participation exception. 12.A high school boys’ track team coach encourages his students to participate in the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” 5K run. During the course of the race he sees several members of his track team participating, so he runs along with them. The teacher, who is wearing his “Frederick Douglass High” sweatshirt, injures his knee during the race. 12.A high school boys’ track team coach encourages his students to participate in the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” 5K run. During the course of the race he sees several members of his track team participating, so he runs along with them. The teacher, who is wearing his “Frederick Douglass High” sweatshirt, injures his knee during the race. 86

87. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: general criteria— loss of consciousness. Note: Please have someone take this employee for medical care! 13.A paraprofessional slips and falls while assisting a student. She strikes her head on a table and briefly loses consciousness. She regains consciousness and states that her head hurts, but that she is otherwise fine. She continues working and takes non-prescription Tylenol ® for the pain. 13.A paraprofessional slips and falls while assisting a student. She strikes her head on a table and briefly loses consciousness. She regains consciousness and states that her head hurts, but that she is otherwise fine. She continues working and takes non-prescription Tylenol ® for the pain. 87

88. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: specific criteria— contaminated needle stick. Note: also a privacy case. 14.While picking up trash from around the school fence, a custodian experiences a needle stick through his glove from an uncovered syringe. The syringe has clearly been used. The employee is frightened and the principal recommends that he report to Mercy for counseling. 14.While picking up trash from around the school fence, a custodian experiences a needle stick through his glove from an uncovered syringe. The syringe has clearly been used. The employee is frightened and the principal recommends that he report to Mercy for counseling. 88

89. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: no work-related event. Note: the fatality must be reported to MOSH within 8 hours—MOSH will decide whether to investigate. 15.While typing at her desk, an administrative assistant with a pre- existing heart condition suffers a fatal heart attack. 15.While typing at her desk, an administrative assistant with a pre- existing heart condition suffers a fatal heart attack. 89

90. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: the injury resulted in a restriction to his routine duties even though only first aid was used (finger guard). 16.A basketball coach sprains his finger while demonstrating routine passing techniques. He reports to Mercy Clinic and a finger guard is applied to support the finger. He is told that he may not actively demonstrate sports for two weeks, but he returns to work. 16.A basketball coach sprains his finger while demonstrating routine passing techniques. He reports to Mercy Clinic and a finger guard is applied to support the finger. He is told that he may not actively demonstrate sports for two weeks, but he returns to work. 90

91. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: significant aggravation of the injury and specific criteria—broken bone! This would also be listed as a new case. 17.A custodian has a sprained wrist from a fall he suffered at work last week that resulted in him missing 2 days of work. Two weeks later, he falls from a ladder while changing light bulbs in the main office of his school. He fractures the same wrist, exactly where the sprain had earlier occurred. 17.A custodian has a sprained wrist from a fall he suffered at work last week that resulted in him missing 2 days of work. Two weeks later, he falls from a ladder while changing light bulbs in the main office of his school. He fractures the same wrist, exactly where the sprain had earlier occurred. 91

92. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: first-aid exception. 18.A cafeteria manager cuts her forearm on a nail located in a food storage area. She reports to Mercy where butterfly bandages are used to close the wound. A tetanus immunization is administered. 18.A cafeteria manager cuts her forearm on a nail located in a food storage area. She reports to Mercy where butterfly bandages are used to close the wound. A tetanus immunization is administered. 92

93. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: work-relatedness is presumed if the illness or injury happens in the workplace. Sometimes, particularly for illnesses, it’s hard to tell. Look to the surrounding circumstances—you should find this case to be work-related. 19.Two students who share gym equipment have been diagnosed with CA-MRSA (a community associated staph infection, resistant to antibiotics, which causes serious skin and soft tissue infections and a serious form of pneumonia). The physical education teacher has an uncovered scrape on his hand and after handling the same gym equipment, he likewise contracts CA-MRSA. 93

94. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Need More Information: the instruction is vague—are his routine job duties affected? 20.A custodian experienced a lower back injury after he fell off a chair while on his morning break. The incident occurred away from his work area, outside by the loading dock. After an evaluation by Mercy Clinic he was given three days of “light duty.” 94

95. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: specific criteria—a work related event caused the employee to lose consciousness. Note: also a privacy case due to her phobia (phobias are considered to be mental illnesses). 21.A food service manager suffers from a fear of mice (musophobia). While moving some boxes, she faints after discovering several of the rodents have taken up residence around her work area. 95

96. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: restricted duty was assigned—even if it was ignored. Note: only the clinic or other appropriate medical personnel should be discharging an employee back to full duties! 22.A paraprofessional was injured while on the job and Mercy assigned a work restriction that would affect the performance of his routine duties. The paraprofessional stated nonetheless that he could perform his duties without pain and proceeded to do so. 96

97. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: personal food consumption exception. 23.A principal scalds herself while sipping a hot cup of coffee. She goes to the Mercy Clinic where she is prescribed a prescription ointment. 23.A principal scalds herself while sipping a hot cup of coffee. She goes to the Mercy Clinic where she is prescribed a prescription ointment. 97

98. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: parking lot vehicle accident exception. 24.An assistant principal is involved in an auto accident on the school parking lot during his morning commute. He experiences a concussion. The Mercy Clinic prescribes a prescription medication and instructs him to stay home from work for three days. 24.An assistant principal is involved in an auto accident on the school parking lot during his morning commute. He experiences a concussion. The Mercy Clinic prescribes a prescription medication and instructs him to stay home from work for three days. 98

99. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: needle was not contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material. 25.The school nurse accidentally sticks herself with a needle while preparing a student’s insulin injection. 99

100. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable–2009 only: the total number of days away should be updated on the 2009 injury log when that becomes known. There is no need to update the 2009 year-end summary. 26.On December 20, 2009, a maintenance worker slipped in the school parking lot and fractured his knee cap. Surgery was required and he missed three months from work. Should this case be recorded, and if so, should it go on the log for 2009, 2010, or both? 100

101. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: work-related injury. 27.A teacher developed a significant case of sunburn during a day-long school field trip to Gunpowder State Park. As a result, Mercy Clinic advised him he could not work for the next two days. 101

102. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: non-prescription medication administered at prescription strength by a PLHCP. 28.The school nurse provides a food service worker with four 200 mg ibuprofen tablets (800 mg = prescription strength) after he complains of minor musculoskeletal discomfort after doing a repetitive job task. 102

103. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Recordable: parking lot exception is only for motor vehicle accidents. 29.A substitute teacher sprained her ankle after she tripped and fell on the school parking lot. She was entering the building at the beginning of the day, but had not yet signed in. 103

104. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Not Recordable: not work related. 30.An athletic director had an epileptic seizure while walking through the gymnasium on his way to the boys’ locker room. During the seizure he fell and struck his head. His injury required five stitches to his forehead and he was off work for a week. 104

105. B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS 105 Contact Information: Mary Beth Haller, Esq. Manager, Environmental Compliance Department of Health & Safety, Room 407A Baltimore City Public Schools 200 E. North Avenue Baltimore, MD 21202 office 443-984-3617 cell 443-984-4641 fax 410-659-6937 mbhaller@bcps.k12.md.us