I would class most cuts at work as 'accidents' and record them as such. Whether you administer your own first-aid or request a trained first-aider to help is then recorded on the accident record. Hope that helps. Don't get too worried about comparing yourself with other companies, just aim to reduce your own accident frequency rate to start with. Look at the causes of the cuts and whether there are repeating themes, then address those with training.

Thanks Peter, I am not too worried about our performance but we have to report first aid cases as a group requirement, our data looks disproportionate in comparison, either the other companies suffer from under reporting or we need to redefine what a first aid case is!

I suggest that the group needs to define what is or isn't 'first aid'. The trouble is that you will often be comparing apples with pears which is why you may find that your figures are disproportionate to others within the group. That is unless the management of risk in one particular area IS significantly worse than others. The question I would ask is whether your part of the group could expect a higher incident rate than other parts because of the type of work that you do. Personally, would I require or insist that someone who had used a plaster to cover a paper cut to put this in the accident book? NO! IF they want to, fine, but to be honest I have bigger fish to fry.

Steven - we use the following OSHA guidelines to decide if it is a First Aid Case (FAC). This is standard guidance for all our units and allows for consistency of reporting OSHA definitions – applicable to all operating locations First Aid An injury that is minor in nature but requires defined basic medical attention. First aid treatments are restricted to the following:  Using a non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength (for medications available in both prescription and non-prescription form, a recommendation by a physician or other licensed health care professional to use a non-prescription medication at prescription strength is considered medical treatment for record keeping purposes)  Administering tetanus immunisations (other immunisations, such as Hepatitis B vaccine or rabies vaccine, are considered medical treatment)  Cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin;  Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-Aids™, gauze pads, etc.; or using butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips™ (other wound closing devices such as sutures, staples, etc., are considered medical treatment);  Using hot or cold therapy;  Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, non-rigid back belts, etc. (devices with rigid stays or other systems designed to immobilise parts of the body are considered medical treatment for record keeping purposes);  Using temporary immobilisation devices while transporting an accident victim (e.g., splints, slings, neck collars, backboards, etc.).  Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister;  Using eye patches;  Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab;  Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs or other simple means;  Using finger guards;  Using massages (physical therapy or chiropractic treatment are considered medical treatment for record keeping purposes); or  Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress. Hope this helps David

Hi Everyone I am in manufacturing, any cuts goes in the accident book, Any lost day cases over 3 days get reported to RIDDOR, I work for an American corporation with over 35,000 employees, so I have to report to them On my Monthly KPI's on all accidents, whether serious or not, everyone has little nicks and cuts its part of the job we do, but I still report, I issue gloves, and Kevlar sleeves to reduce the accidents, YTD I have had one minor cut to tip of finger, and I have achieved world class in health and safety for 2009 & 2010