COHN Workplace Injury and Illness Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An employee in a manufacturing facility reports to the occupational health nurse with a laceration on their forearm sustained while operating machinery. The nurse applies a butterfly bandage and a sterile dressing. The employee returns to their regular duties. According to OSHA's recordkeeping requirements, is this event a recordable injury?
- No, because the treatment provided is considered first aid. (Correct answer)
- Yes, because the injury occurred in the work environment.
- Yes, because a dressing was applied to the wound.
- No, because the employee did not miss any days of work.
Correct answer: No, because the treatment provided is considered first aid.
According to OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1904.7, medical treatment beyond first aid makes an injury recordable. OSHA defines first aid to include the use of wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids™, gauze pads, etc., or wound closing devices such as butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips™. Since the treatment provided falls under the definition of first aid, and the employee did not have days away from work, restricted work, or loss of consciousness, the incident is not an OSHA recordable case.
Question 2: An office worker is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. The occupational health nurse is developing a plan to mitigate ergonomic risk factors for this employee. Which of the following would be the MOST effective initial intervention?
- Recommending surgery to release the carpal tunnel.
- Providing the employee with a wrist splint to wear at all times.
- Conducting an ergonomic assessment of the employee's workstation. (Correct answer)
- Placing the employee on permanent work restrictions.
Correct answer: Conducting an ergonomic assessment of the employee's workstation.
The most effective initial intervention is to identify and address the root cause of the problem. An ergonomic assessment of the workstation will help identify specific risk factors, such as improper chair height, monitor position, or keyboard/mouse setup, that may be contributing to the carpal tunnel syndrome. Correcting these environmental factors is a primary prevention strategy. The other options are treatment or secondary/tertiary interventions that may be considered later but do not address the initial cause.
Question 3: As a case manager, the occupational health nurse's primary role in the return-to-work process for an injured employee is to:
- Determine the employee's eligibility for long-term disability benefits.
- Dispute the treating physician's work restrictions if they seem too conservative.
- Serve as a liaison between the employee, employer, healthcare providers, and insurance carrier. (Correct answer)
- Mandate that the employee return to full duty by a specific date.
Correct answer: Serve as a liaison between the employee, employer, healthcare providers, and insurance carrier.
The occupational health nurse as a case manager plays a crucial coordinating role. They facilitate communication among all stakeholders to ensure a safe, timely, and appropriate return to work. This includes clarifying medical restrictions, identifying potential modified-duty assignments, and ensuring all parties have the necessary information to make decisions. The other options are either outside the nurse's primary scope or are confrontational and not collaborative.
Question 4: Which of the following scenarios involving a work-related injury would require mandatory recording on the OSHA 300 Log?
- An employee is exposed to a chemical but experiences no signs or symptoms.
- An employee receives a tetanus shot as a precaution after a minor scratch.
- An employee experiences a brief loss of consciousness after being struck by a falling box. (Correct answer)
- An employee is given non-prescription pain medication at a dose available over-the-counter.
Correct answer: An employee experiences a brief loss of consciousness after being struck by a falling box.
According to OSHA general recording criteria (29 CFR 1904.7), any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness must be recorded on the OSHA 300 Log. The other options are explicitly listed as treatments considered first aid (non-prescription medication at OTC strength, tetanus immunizations) or do not meet the definition of an injury or illness (exposure without signs or symptoms), and are therefore not recordable.
Question 5: An employee returns to work with a physician's note stating 'no lifting more than 10 pounds' for two weeks following a back strain. The employee's regular job requires lifting 25-pound boxes. What is the occupational health nurse's most appropriate NEXT action?
- Tell the employee to ignore the restriction as it is only for two weeks.
- Send the employee home until they are cleared for full duty.
- Communicate the restrictions to the employee's supervisor to explore modified duty. (Correct answer)
- Contact the physician to request the restriction be lifted immediately.
Correct answer: Communicate the restrictions to the employee's supervisor to explore modified duty.
The nurse's role is to facilitate a safe return to work. The most appropriate action is to communicate the medical restrictions to the supervisor to determine if a temporary modified duty assignment is available that complies with the restrictions. This approach supports the employee's recovery while keeping them engaged at work. Sending the employee home may not be necessary if accommodation is possible, and ignoring or challenging the physician's orders is inappropriate.
Question 6: Which of the following is considered a primary ergonomic risk factor for developing a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)?
- Low workplace morale.
- Inadequate lighting.
- High noise levels.
- Repetitive motion. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Repetitive motion.
Repetitive motion is a well-established ergonomic risk factor that can lead to MSDs by causing wear and tear on muscles, tendons, and nerves. While factors like low morale, poor lighting, and high noise can contribute to workplace stress and safety issues, they are not considered primary *ergonomic* risk factors directly causing MSDs in the same way as repetition, force, and awkward postures.
COHN Workplace Injury and Illness Questions and Answers
An employee in a manufacturing facility reports to the occupational health nurse with a laceration on their forearm sustained while operating machinery.
The nurse applies a butterfly bandage and a sterile dressing.
The employee returns to their regular duties.
According to OSHA's recordkeeping requirements, is this event a recordable injury?
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