CSLB Contractor's Law & Business Practice Exam

Which injury requires employers to maintain records according to Cal/OSHA?

1. A worker suffers a burn that requires a doctor's visit

2. A worker is knocked unconscious but returns to work

3. A worker develops a chronic allergy after fiberglass exposure

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: A worker develops a chronic allergy after fiberglass exposure

Employers are required to maintain records of workplace injuries and illnesses to comply with Cal/OSHA regulations. One specific situation that necessitates recordkeeping is when a worker develops a chronic illness, such as a chronic allergy after fiberglass exposure. This scenario falls under the category of work-related illnesses, which are mandated to be documented because they can often indicate a pattern of exposure and health impacts that may require ongoing monitoring and preventive measures. This type of recordkeeping helps to ensure that employers are aware of potential hazards in the workplace and can take the necessary steps to protect their employees. Tracking chronic conditions is essential for both compliance and improving workplace safety by identifying long-term effects of workplace exposures. In contrast, while burns requiring a doctor's visit and cases of unconsciousness are serious and warrant documentation and reporting to some extent, they do not automatically trigger the same level of record-keeping requirements that chronic illnesses like allergies do. The focus on chronic conditions highlights the importance of long-term health effects rather than just acute injuries, which may resolve more quickly and might not require extensive tracking.