Navigating Remote Work Safety: When is an Injury 'Work-Related'?

Introduction:

In recent years, the rise of remote work has transformed the way many companies operate. With more employees working from home or traveling for business, questions about when an injury at home or during a work-related trip is considered work-related for OSHA's 300 Log have become increasingly important. In this blog, we'll explore OSHA's criteria for evaluating work-relatedness in remote work and travel situations to help you navigate these complex scenarios.

Remote Work Scenarios:

When it comes to remote work, OSHA applies a consistent set of criteria to determine if an injury is work-related. Injuries caused by factors related to the general home environment are typically not considered work-related and are therefore not recordable. To illustrate this, OSHA provides examples to clarify the distinction.

1. Home Environment-Related Injuries:

Imagine an employee who tripped over the family dog while rushing to answer a business phone call. In this case, OSHA would classify the injury as not work-related, as it resulted from a non-work-related aspect of the home environment.

Similarly, if an employee dropped a box of company documents on their foot at home and got injured, OSHA would classify this as work-related because it occurred while performing a job related task.

2. Clarifying Examples:

OSHA further elaborates by addressing specific scenarios. For instance, if a salesperson working from home slipped on ice in their driveway while carrying company documents, OSHA would consider the injury related to the home environment and not work-related.

Likewise, if an employee slipped and fell while carrying a company laptop down a stairway at home, OSHA would likely categorize this as a non-work-related injury, as it is still associated with the home environment.

On the contrary, ergonomic injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome from computer use or back injuries from poor posture while working at home are likely to be considered work-related by OSHA since they directly relate to job tasks, rather than the general home environment.

Traveling Scenarios:

Injuries occurring during job-related travel are generally considered work-related, but OSHA draws a distinction between normal commutes and business travel.

1. Normal Commute vs. Business Travel:

OSHA doesn't explicitly define a "normal commute," but it typically refers to the daily journey from home to a fixed work location and back. Injuries during this regular commute are not considered work-related.

However, travel between job sites or to another city for business purposes is classified as work related travel. For instance, if an employee drives a considerable distance to a facility they visit only occasionally and gets injured in a car accident, OSHA is likely to classify the injury as work related.

2. Hotel Stays:

Employees traveling for business may stay in hotels, creating a "home away from home." In such cases, OSHA advises employers to assess injuries by applying the criteria used for injuries at home. If the injury is directly related to the job, it's considered work-related. However, injuries that occur in hotel facilities like the pool or exercise room are typically not work-related.

Meeting with Clients or Customers After Hours:

When employees meet with clients or customers after regular working hours, OSHA considers these injuries work-related only if the employee engaged in the activity "at the direction of the employer." In other words, if the employer specifically instructs the employee to meet with clients after hours, injuries that occur during such meetings are work-related.

Conclusion:

Navigating OSHA's criteria for evaluating work-related injuries in remote work and business travel situations can be complex. Understanding the distinction between injuries related to the job and those caused by the home or travel environment is essential for proper recordkeeping and compliance with OSHA guidelines. By applying these principles, employers can better manage the safety of their remote workforce and ensure accurate injury reporting.

By: Derek Jennings