Download Available: Recordable Injuries – LH

The Workers Compensation (W/C) premium paid by your dealership depends upon payroll, work function of the employee and the X-Mod.  The X-Mod is computed upon the severity and frequency of injuries reported.  Some dealerships have entered into programs with their insurance company where the first $250 expense for the treatment is paid by the dealership aka a deductible.  While this financial agreement may be acceptable, it does not relieve the dealership to record the injury that later will reflect in their premiums!  California Department of Insurance wrote a memo (a copy is attached) on this matter sometime ago notifying employers of their obligations.  We seriously recommend that you discuss the matter of WHAT INJURIES NEED TO BE REPORTED AND WHICH ARE EXEMPT with your W/C insurance company.  Some general guidance between recordable injuries and first aid as follows: 

Injuries requiring any of the following treatments are almost always recordable:

• Treatment of infection
• Application of antiseptics during the second or subsequent visit to medical personnel
• Treatment of second or third degree burn(s)
• Application of sutures (stitches)
• Application of butterfly adhesive dressing(s) or steri strip(s) in lieu of sutures
• Removal of foreign bodies embedded in eye
• Removal of foreign bodies from wound; if procedure is complicated because of depth of embedment, size, or location
• Use of prescription medications (except a single dose administered on first visit for minor injury or discomfort)
• Use of hot or cold soaking therapy during the second or subsequent visit to medical personnel
• Cutting away dead skin (surgical debridement)
• Application of heat therapy during second or subsequent visit to medical personnel
• Use of whirlpool bath therapy during second or subsequent visit to medical personnel
• Positive x-ray diagnosis (fractures, broken bones, etc.)
• Admission to a hospital or equivalent medical facility for treatment.

The following are generally considered first aid treatment if the employee does not loose consciousness, have restriction of work or motion, or transfer to another job:

• Application of antiseptics during first visit to medical personnel
• Treatment of first degree burn(s)
• Application of bandage(s) during any visit to medical personnel
• Use of elastic bandage(s) during first visit to medical personnel
• Removal of foreign bodies not embedded in eye if only irrigation is required
• Removal of foreign bodies from wound; if procedure is uncomplicated, and is, for example, by tweezers or other simple technique
• Use of nonprescription medications and administration of single dose of prescription medication on first visit for minor injury or discomfort
• Soaking therapy on initial visit to medical personnel or removal of bandages by soaking
• Application of hot or cold compress(es) during first visit to medical personnel
• Application of ointments to abrasions to prevent drying or cracking
• Application of heat therapy during first visit to medical personnel
• Use of whirlpool bath therapy during first visit to medical personnel
• Negative x-ray diagnosis
• Observation of injury during visit to medical personnel.

Since 1987, Sam has been helping automobile dealers comply with EPA & OSHA regulations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, & Idaho.  Your comments/questions are always welcome.  Please send them to sam@cellyservices.com