[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1904.12]

[Page 55-56]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
Part 1904--Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart C--Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria
 
Sec. 1904.12  Recording criteria for cases involving work-related 
musculoskeletal disorders.

    (a) Basic requirement. If any of your employees experiences a 
recordable work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), you must record 
it on the OSHA 300 Log by checking the ``musculoskeletal disorder'' 
column.
    (b) Implementation. (1) What is a ``musculoskeletal disorder'' or 
MSD? Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are disorders of the muscles, 
nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. MSDs do 
not include disorders caused by slips, trips, falls, motor vehicle 
accidents, or other similar accidents. Examples of MSDs include: Carpal 
tunnel syndrome, Rotator cuff syndrome, De Quervain's disease, Trigger 
finger, Tarsal tunnel syndrome, Sciatica, Epicondylitis, Tendinitis, 
Raynaud's phenomenon, Carpet layers knee, Herniated spinal disc, and Low 
back pain.
    (2) How do I decide which musculoskeletal disorders to record? There 
are no special criteria for determining which musculoskeletal disorders 
to record. An MSD case is recorded using the same process you would use 
for any

[[Page 56]]

other injury or illness. If a musculoskeletal disorder is work-related, 
and is a new case, and meets one or more of the general recording 
criteria, you must record the musculoskeletal disorder. The following 
table will guide you to the appropriate section of the rule for guidance 
on recording MSD cases.
    (i) Determining if the MSD is work-related. See Sec. 1904.5.
    (ii) Determining if the MSD is a new case. See Sec. 1904.6.
    (iii) Determining if the MSD meets one or more of the general 
recording criteria:
    (A) Days away from work, see Sec. 1904.7(b)(3).
    (B) Restricted work or transfer to another job, or see Sec. 
1904.7(b)(4).
    (C) Medical treatment beyond first aid. See Sec. 1904.7(b)(5).
    (3) If a work-related MSD case involves only subjective symptoms 
like pain or tingling, do I have to record it as a musculoskeletal 
disorder? The symptoms of an MSD are treated the same as symptoms for 
any other injury or illness. If an employee has pain, tingling, burning, 
numbness or any other subjective symptom of an MSD, and the symptoms are 
work-related, and the case is a new case that meets the recording 
criteria, you must record the case on the OSHA 300 Log as a 
musculoskeletal disorder.
    Note to Sec. 1904.12: This section is effective January 1, 2004. From 
January 1, 2002 until December 31, 2003, you are required to record 
work-related injuries and illnesses involving muscles, nerves, tendons, 
ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs in accordance with the 
requirements applicable to any injury or illness under Sec. 1904.5, Sec. 
1904.6, Sec. 1904.7, and Sec. 1904.29. For entry (M) on the OSHA 300 Log, you 
must check either the entry for ``injury'' or ``all other illnesses.''

[66 FR 6122, Jan. 19, 2001, as amended at 66 FR 52034, Oct. 12, 2001; 67 
FR 77170, Dec. 17, 2002]

    Effective Date Note: At 68 FR 38607, June 30, 2003, Sec. 1904.12 was 
removed, effective Jan. 1, 2004.