OARS - Privacy Case

• If I record an injury and the employee is later diagnosed with an infectious blood borne disease, do I need to update the UW Occupational Injury and Illness Report?
• What if one of my employees is splashed or exposed to blood or other potentially infectious material without being cut or scratched? Do I need to record this incident?
• Does the employer decide if an injury or illness is a privacy concern case?
• May I classify any other types of injuries and illnesses as privacy concern cases?
• If I have removed the employee's name using the "Confidential" radio button, but I still believe that the employee may be identified from the information on the forms, is there anything else that I can do to further protect the employee's privacy?
• What if an employee gets injured while treating a patient?

If I record an injury and the employee is later diagnosed with an infectious blood borne disease, do I need to update the UW Occupational Injury and Illness Report?

Yes, you must update the OARS Report using the 72 hour tickler or the 30 day tickler that will be sent to you after submitting an initial report if the case results in death, days away from work, restricted work, or job transfer.

What if one of my employees is splashed or exposed to blood or other potentially infectious material without being cut or scratched? Do I need to record this incident?

You need to record such an incident using the UW Occupational Injury and Illness Report if:

• It results in the diagnosis of a blood borne illness, such as HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C;

OR

It meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Death.
• Days away from work.
• Restricted work or transfer to another job.
• Medical treatment beyond first aid.
• Loss of consciousness.

Does the employer decide if an injury or illness is a privacy concern case?

Yes. The employer must decide if a case is a privacy concern case, using a list that lists the six types of injuries and illnesses the employer must consider privacy concern cases. If the case meets any of these criteria, the employer must consider it a privacy concern case. This is a complete list of all injury and illnesses considered privacy concern cases.

• An injury or illness to an intimate body part or the reproductive system;
• An injury or illness resulting from a sexual assault;
• Mental illnesses;
• HIV infection, hepatitis, or tuberculosis;
• Needle stick injuries and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM); and
• Other illnesses, if the employee voluntarily requests that his or her name not be entered on the log.

May I classify any other types of injuries and illnesses as privacy concern cases?

No, in the previous FAQ, there is a complete list of all injuries and illnesses considered privacy concern cases for reporting purposes.

If I have removed the employee's name using the "Confidential" radio button, but I still believe that the employee may be identified from the information on the forms, is there anything else that I can do to further protect the employee's privacy?

Yes, if you have a reasonable basis to believe that information describing the privacy concern case may be personally identifiable even though the employee's name has been omitted, you may use discretion in describing the injury or illness. One way is to not use the Employees first name in narrative sections of the UW Occupational Injury and Illness Report. Identify this person as "Employee."

You must enter enough information to identify the cause of the incident and the general severity of the injury or illness, but you do not need to include details of an intimate or private nature. For example, a sexual assault case could be described as "injury from assault," or an injury to a reproductive organ could be described as "lower abdominal injury."

What if an employee gets injured while treating a patient?

You must fill out an OARS report. Check to see if the injury falls under any conditions that might make it a privacy case. Do not use any patient identifers anywhere in the OARS report. If is is a workplace violence issue, be sure to contact the Public Safety Office.