Injuries should be classified as serious if objective medical evidence indicates significant or sustained (beyond initial event, acute treatment and testing) organ damage, or progressive changes in organ function or anatomy.

With regard to reporting to Cal/OSHA, a serious injury or illness is now defined as one involving inpatient hospitalization, regardless of length of time, for other than medical observation or diagnostic testing; amputation; loss of an eye; or serious degree of permanent disfigurement.

2. serious injury or illness, defined as a. any hospitalization longer than 24 hours for other than observation, or b. loss of any body part, or c. any "serious degree" of permanent disfigurement.

OSHA requires employers to report all severe work-related injuries, defined as an amputation, in-patient hospitalization, or loss of an eye.

1 Impairment of the body in which part of the body is made functionally useless or is substantially reduced in efficiency on or off the job. Such impairment may be permanent or temporary, chronic or acute. Injuries involving such impairment would usually require treatment by a medical doctor.