Incident Medical Classification

Last Updated: December 31st, 2022/Views: 6719/4.3 min read/
Online HSE Software

First Aid (FA)

Any treatment of minor scratches, cuts, burns, splinters and so forth, and any follow-up visit for the purpose of observation. The following are generally considered first aid treatment:

  • Using a non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength (for medications available in both prescription and non-prescription form, a recommendation by a physician or other licensed health care professional to use a non-prescription medication at prescription strength is considered medical treatment for recordkeeping purposes);
  • Administering tetanus immunizations (other immunizations, such as Hepatitis B vaccine are considered medical treatment);
  • Cleaning, flushing, or soaking wounds on the surface of the skin;
  • Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band-AidsTM, gauze pads, etc.; or using butterfly bandages or Steri-StripsTM (other wound closing devices such as sutures, staples, etc., are considered medical treatment);
  • Using hot or cold therapy;
  • Using any non-rigid means of support, such as elastic bandages, wraps, non-rigid back belts, etc. (devices with rigid stays or other systems designed to immobilize parts of the body are considered medical treatment);
  • Using temporary immobilization devices while transporting an incident victim (e.g. splints, slings, neck collars, back boards, etc.);
  • Drilling of a fingernail or toenail to relieve pressure, or draining fluid from a blister;
  • Using eye patches;
  • Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or a cotton swab;
  • Removing splinters or foreign material from areas other than the eye by irrigation, tweezers, cotton swabs, or other simple means;
  • Using finger guards;
  • Using massages (physical therapy or chiropractic treatment are considered medical treatment for record keeping purposes);
  • Drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

Source: IADC

Restricted Work/Transfer Case (RWTC)

A Restricted Work/Transfer Case (RWTC) occurs when an employee cannot perform all of the routine job functions, but does not result in days away from work. A RWTC occurs when, as a consequence of a work related injury or illness:

  • The employee is temporarily assigned to another job;
  • The employee cannot perform all of his routine job functions for all or part of his work shift;
  • The employee works his regularly assigned job but cannot work the full shift/tour.
  • Restricted or light duty the day of the injury or illness does not make the incident a recordable

Restricted Work / Transfer Case (RWTC). If the employee continues under restricted duty the day after the incident, the case becomes a recordable Restricted Work/Transfer Case (RWTC).
Should an employee experience minor musculoskeletal discomfort such as muscle pains or strains, a physician or licensed health care professional determines that the employee is fully able to perform all of his routine job functions, and the employer assigns work restriction to that employee or restricts the employee’s job functions, for purpose of preventing a more serious condition from developing, the case is not recordable as a restricted work case.


Source: IADC

Recordable Incident (Injury or Illness)

Regardless of where signs or symptoms surface, a case is recordable only if a work event or  exposure is a discernable cause of the injury or illness or of a significant aggravation to a preexisting condition.

An injury or illness that is work-related and results in one of the following:

  • Fatality (FTL)
  • Lost time from work (LTI) (DAFWC)
  • Restricted work / transfer activity (RWTC)
  •  Medical treatment other than first aid (MTO)
  • DART is not a new category, just a new acronym for cases that include reportable incidents that include: Days Away, Restricted or Transfer Case

Injuries or illnesses should not be evaluated on the time spent seeking medical treatment or  undergoing evaluation. If an examination reveals that no medical treatment is required, and / or the  case is not diagnosed as significant by the treating physician or licensed health care professional, the case is not recordable.

A person who sustains a work-related injury or illness requiring treatment that meets recordable  incident criteria, and is terminated for drug use based on a post-incident drug test, the incident is recordable.


Source: IADC

Medical Treatment Case (MTC)

Any work related injury or illness requiring medical care or treatment beyond first aid (regardless of the provider of such treatment) that does not result in a Restricted Work/Transfer Case (RWTC) or Lost Time Incident (LTI).

Medical treatment does not include first aid treatment (See First Aid) even though provided by a physician or registered professional personnel. For record keeping purposes

Medical Treatment Case (MTC) does not include:

  • Visits to a physician or other licensed health care professional solely for observation or
    consulting;
  •  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
  •  Any treatment contained on the list of first-aid treatments.

Source: IADC

Lost Time Incident (LTI)

A work-related incident (injury or illness) to an employee in which a physician or licensed health care
professional recommends days away from work due to the incident.

Note: Time away from work on the day of the incident is not considered in determining Lost Time
Incidents (LTI). Time spent traveling, undergoing evaluation, awaiting medical evaluation results, or
otherwise seeking medical treatment should not be counted as a Lost Time Incident (LTI) when
considering LTI classification.


Source: IADC

Leave A Comment