What is medical treatment under OSHA recordkeeping?

“What is the definition of medical treatment? “Medical treatment” means the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. For the purposes of part 1904, medical treatment does not include:

(A) Visits to a physician or other licensed health care professional solely for observation or counseling;

(B) The conduct of diagnostic procedures, such as x-rays and blood tests, including the administration of prescription medications used solely for diagnostic purposes (e.g., eye drops to dilate pupils); or

(C) “First aid” as defined in paragraph (b)(5)(ii) of this section.”

• 29 CFR 1904.7, General recording criteria 12 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.

• First aid A complete list of simple treatments. The list includes bandages, wound cleaning and nonprescription medication at nonprescription strength.
• Recordable injury A new, work-related case that results in death, days away, restricted work, job transfer, treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness or a significant diagnosis, or fits a special case in 1904.8 to 1904.11.
• Restricted work or job transfer When a work-related injury or illness keeps an employee from routine job functions or the full workday, or moves them to another job part of the day.
• Work-related injury or illness An injury or illness caused or contributed to by an event or exposure in the work environment, or significantly aggravated by one.

All terms in the OSHA glossary

1. 29 CFR 1904.7, General recording criteria. eCFR, text as of October 27, 2026.

Written by Cairn, updated October 29, 2026. The quoted text is copied from the sources above. A test compares each quotation with a stored copy of the source, and a separate script compares that copy with the live sources. This page explains the law and is not legal advice.