CSLB Law & Business ExamSafetyMedium
An employee's finger is amputated in a table saw accident on a job site. The employee is treated at a clinic and released the same day, without any overnight hospitalization. How must this injury be classified under Cal/OSHA's serious injury reporting requirements?
- ANot serious, since there was no overnight hospitalization
- BSerious only if more than one finger is amputated
- CSerious injury, because amputation qualifies regardless of hospitalization status
- DMinor injury, requiring only an entry on the OSHA 300 log
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Serious injury, because amputation qualifies regardless of hospitalization status
Under California Labor Code §6409.1, a 'serious injury or illness' includes any amputation, regardless of whether the employee was hospitalized overnight. Amputation automatically triggers the serious injury reporting requirement to Cal/OSHA.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Hospitalization is not required for amputations to qualify as serious.
- B. A single amputation is sufficient; multiple losses are not required.
- D. OSHA 300 log entry alone is insufficient; this triggers mandatory serious injury reporting.
Amputation as Serious Injury
Under California Labor Code §6409.1, any amputation is automatically classified as a serious injury, triggering mandatory reporting regardless of hospitalization.
- Amputation qualifies automatically as serious
- Overnight hospitalization is not required
- Must be reported to Cal/OSHA within required timeframe
Memory trick: Lose a part, report from the start — amputation is always serious.