• Injuries and illness that occur while an employee is traveling for work must be recorded under Part 1904, unless certain conditions apply.

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.” Examples of such activities include travel to and from customer contacts, conducting job tasks, 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).

Injuries or illnesses that occur when the employee is on travel status do not have to be recorded if they meet one of the exceptions listed below.

• 1904.5(b)(6)(i): When traveling employees check into a hotel, motel, or into another temporary residence, they establish a “home away from home.” Employers must evaluate employee activities after they check into the hotel, motel, or other temporary residence for work-relatedness in the same manner as evaluating the activities of an employee working from home. When employees check into the temporary residence, they are considered to have left the work environment. When employees begin work each day, they re-enter the work environment. If the employee has established a “home away from home” and is reporting to a fixed worksite each day, employers 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.
• 1904.5(b)(6)(ii): Injuries or illnesses are not considered work related if they occur while the employee is on a personal detour from a reasonably direct route of travel (e.g., has taken a side trip for personal reasons).