When is an injury or illness work-related under OSHA?

“You must consider an injury or illness to be work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness. Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment, unless an exception in § 1904.5(b)(2) specifically applies.”

• 29 CFR 1904.5, Determination of work-relatedness 5 paragraphs use the term.
• 29 CFR 1904.4, Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria: Recording criteria 4 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.
• 29 CFR 1904.7, General recording criteria 10 paragraphs use the term. Read the text on eCFR.

• 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.
• First aid A complete list of simple treatments. The list includes bandages, wound cleaning and nonprescription medication at nonprescription strength.
• Medical treatment The management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. It does not include first aid, observation or diagnostic procedures.
• Establishment A single physical location where business is conducted or where services or industrial operations are performed.

All terms in the OSHA glossary

1. 29 CFR 1904.5, Determination of work-relatedness. 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.