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Corneal abrasions on the injury log

Summary An employer asked when corneal abrasions belonged on the OSHA injury log. OSHA said an abrasion without medical treatment, lost consciousness, days away, restricted work or job transfer was not recordable under its then-current rules. OSHA labels the letter an archive document.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1995-07-07
Date issued
July 7, 1995
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1904 Recordkeeping Eye Injuries
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

July 7, 1995

Ms. Linda Ballas
Linda Ballas & Associates
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Linda:

Thank you for your letter dated July 26 requesting an interpretation for recording cases involving eye injuries on the OSHA Log 200. Historically, we have not differentiated between types of corneal abrasions in regards to being classified as minor or non-minor. Therefore, an injury involving a corneal abrasion should not be recorded if it does not involve medical treatment, loss of consciousness, days away from work, days of restricted work activity or job transfer.

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any further questions, please contact us at Area Code (202) 219-6463.

Sincerely,
Bob Whitmore
Chief
Division of Recordkeeping Requirements

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