Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
pm_83  
#1 Posted : 03 June 2010 09:06:30(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
pm_83

Can someone explain the difference between a medical treatment case and a first aid case?? If an injured person is taken to hospital is this automatically classed as a medical treatment case or does it depend on the treatment they receive at hospital? Are these definitions outlined in any Regulations?
jay  
#2 Posted : 03 June 2010 09:32:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

These terms are based on OSHA (USA) Reporting Rules, i.e regulations and do not apply to reporting in GB under RIDDOR.

Unlike RIDDOR, OSHA has a prescribed list of what constitutes "First Aid" (which is NOT recordabe) and anything beyond first aid is "medical treatment" and recordable!

For example, if an employee had a cut that required the use of "medical glue", but returned to his normal work on the same day, this is not reportable under RIDDOR. However, under OSHA, this is "medical treatment".

A significant number of global/multinational companies use the OSHA criteria for theri "internal" and global reporting.


Details at:-
http://www.osha.gov/pls/...=STANDARDS&p_id=9638

http://www.osha.gov/pls/...1&p_part_number=1904
Kate  
#3 Posted : 03 June 2010 09:35:13(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

It's not a distinction that's made in any UK regulations. However OSHA have very well-developed definitions for this as it's fundamental to the accident classification system in the USA and these are widely used. Yes, it does very much depend on the treatment - some treatment that may be given at hospital is still classed as first aid.

The OSHA definitions are explained, at great length, here: http://www.osha.gov/pls/...=STANDARDS&p_id=9638


stevedm  
#4 Posted : 03 June 2010 13:56:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

I put together these definitions a few years ago.

Medical treatment includes, other than first aid, administered by a doctor or a nurse on the orders of a doctor.
First aid, even if given by a doctor, is not counted as medical treatment.

e.g - Burns - first degree burn treatment - would be classed as first aid. 2/3rd Medical treatment.

If you need the full slide give me a shout. :)
jay  
#5 Posted : 03 June 2010 16:41:18(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

Medical Treatment may have complex interpretations, such as being prescribed over the counter non-prescription medicines, i.e. paracetamol at "prescription strength" but not at OTC strength !

The definitive "rules" are the OSHA ones highlighted through the links.

For example, a cut that is cleaned and re-bandaged in a hospital remains a first aid, but should the doctor presccribe an anti-biotic as a precuationary measure, it becomes "medical treatment" as prescription medicine was "prescribed"
Steve Sedgwick  
#6 Posted : 03 June 2010 20:16:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve Sedgwick

PM 83, I have a powerpoint presentation on this if you it.
Steve
NB Rightly or wrongly I used to classify glues as first aid treatment ie similar to steri-strip type injuries
nickygee  
#7 Posted : 05 June 2010 21:44:55(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
nickygee

In the drilling industry, definitions of First Aid, Medical Treatment, LTI, etc are defined in the IADC website Incident Statistics Program. All drilling contractors and sub contractors must abide by these definitions to produce their respective SHE performance figures; TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate, recordables per 200,00 man hours exposure) or TRIF (Total Recordable Incident Frequency, recordables per 1,000,000 man hours exposure)

http://www.iadc.org/asp/...ADC_ISP_Q&A_BOOK.pdf

Hope this helps
Steve Sedgwick  
#8 Posted : 06 June 2010 10:38:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve Sedgwick

Nicky the IADC document is a very useful reference, but the system described is not different to the OSHA Standard.

To clarify for other readers these accident categorisation guide lines from IADC follow the OSHA Accident recording standard. They do though go into more detail in defining different injury / ill health senario,s than anything I have seen before

regards
Steve
jay  
#9 Posted : 07 June 2010 15:17:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

The IADC Document indeed is a comprehensive compilation of various "formal" and "authoritative" OSHA interpretations of specific questions regarding the OSHA Accident recording rules. The interpretations are on the OSHA website, but not in a single document.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/..._level=0&p_keyvalue=

http://www.osha.gov/pls/...904&p_status=CURRENT


It would be great if the HSE did something similar!
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.