Serious Injury Or Illness Flashcards
CL 178 serious injury or illness what are they
Immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital
Immediate treatment for the amputation of any part of the body
Admission into a hospital as an in-patient for any duration, even if the stay is not overnight or longer
Amputation of a limb such as arm or leg, body part such as hand, foot or the tip of a finger, toe, nose or ear
Fractured skull, loss of consciousness, blood clot or bleeding in the brain, damage to the skull to the extent that it is likely to affect organ/face function
Head injuries resulting in temporary or permanent amnesia
Injury that results in or is likely to result in the loss of the eye or total or partial loss of vision
Injury that involves an object penetrating the eye (for example metal fragment, wood chip)
Exposure of the eye to a substance which poses a risk of serious eye damage
A burn requiring intensive care or critical care which could require compression garment or a skin graft
Separation of skin from an underlying tissue such that tendon, bone or muscles are exposed (de- gloving or scalping)
Out-patient treatment provided by the emergency section of a hospital (i.e. not requiring admission as an in- patient)
Admission for corrective surgery which does not immediately follow the injury (e.g. to fix a fractured nose)
A bump to the head resulting in a minor contusion or headache
Eye exposure to a substance that merely causes irritation
A burn that merely requires washing the wound and applying a dressing
Minor lacerations
Immediate treatment for serious head injury
Immediate treatment for serious eye injury
Immediate treatment for serious burn
Immediate treatment for separation of skin from an underlying tissue (such as de-gloving or scalping)
Type of treatment
Includes …
Does not include …
Immediate treatment for a spinal injury
Immediate treatment for the loss of a bodily function
Immediate treatment for serious lacerations
Medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance
Injury to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebrae including the discs and spinal cord
Loss of consciousness, loss of movement of a limb or loss of the sense of smell, taste, sight or hearing, or loss of function of an internal organ
Deep or extensive cuts that cause muscle, tendon, nerve or blood vessel damage or permanent impairment
Deep puncture wounds
Tears of wounds to the flesh or tissues—this may include stitching to prevent loss of blood and/or other treatment to prevent loss of bodily function and/or infection
‘Medical treatment’ is treatment provided by a doctor
Exposure to a substance includes exposure to chemicals, airborne contaminants and exposure to human and/or animal blood and body substances
Acute back strain
Mere fainting
A sprain or strain
First aid administered by a first aid officer
It does not matter whether the person actually receives the treatment, just that the injury or illness could reasonably be considered to warrant such treatment. Consider the following situations:
> A worker drops a heavy weight onto his foot but does not seek immediate treatment as he thinks that the steel-capped boots he was wearing have protected him from serious injury. However, when he later takes off his boots it becomes apparent that his foot is broken.
> A person does not receive immediate treatment for a condition based on religious beliefs or cultural norms. For example, the person might refuse a blood transfusion or decline treatment from a doctor of the opposite sex.
In addition to the injuries or illnesses that are defined by the type of treatment required, two types of illness are specifically included in the definition of ‘serious injury or illness’.
The first is any infection to which the carrying out of work is a significant contributing factor, including any infection that is reliably attributable to carrying out work:
> that involves providing treatment or care of a person
> that involves contact with human blood or body substances
> that involves handling or contact with animals, animal hides, skins, wool or hair, animal carcasses or animal waste products.2
The second type of specified illness is certain occupational zoonoses contracted in the course of work involving handling or
