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708 OSHA Recordkeeping Basics
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Work Environments While Traveling

Work in the interest of the employer. Injuries and illnesses that occur while an employee is on travel status are work-related if, at the time of the injury or illness, the employee was engaged in work activities "in the interest of the employer."

Person checking in at a desk presenting identification to clerk in front of computer
Checking in creates a home away from home.

Examples of such activities include:

  • Travel to and from customer contacts, conducting job tasks, training, work-related meetings, and entertaining or being entertained to transact, discuss, or promote business. Work-related entertainment includes only entertainment activities being engaged in at the direction of the employer.
  • Similarly, if an employee is injured in an automobile accident while running errands for the company or traveling to make a speech on behalf of the company, the employee is present at the scene as a condition of employment, and any resulting injury would be work-related.

Home Away From Home. When a traveling employee checks into a hotel, motel, or into another temporary residence, for one or more days, he or she establishes a "home away from home." After he or she checks in, evaluate the employee's activities for their work-relatedness in the same manner as you evaluate the activities of a non-traveling employee. For example:

  • When the employee checks into the temporary residence, he or she is considered to have left the work environment. When the employee begins work each day, he or she re-enters the work environment.
  • If the employee has established a "home away from home" and is reporting to a fixed worksite each day, you also do not consider injuries or illnesses work-related if they occur while the employee is commuting between the temporary residence and the job location.

Taking a Detour. Injuries or illnesses are not considered work-related if they occur while the employee takes a detour for personal reasons from a reasonably direct route of travel. For example, the employee took a side trip for personal reasons.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-4. Work-related entertainment includes only entertainment _____.