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RIDDOR reporting made simple

Published May 26, 2021

Managing accident reporting in the workplace

Nobody goes to work to get injured but, despite the best effort of employers and employees to prevent workplace incidents, unfortunately employees can be injured or killed at work. Figures released by the HSE as part of their summary statistics of accidents and ill-health in the workplace, recorded 700,000 workers sustaining injuries in the workplace with 111 resulting in fatality. Due to the continuing efforts of employers to reduce risks and prevent workplace incidents, this number is lower than previous years, but any figures including fatalities will ultimately be too high.

Employers have a legal responsibility to record and report on specific injuries, illnesses and incidents in the workplace that involve their employees and, where necessary, non-employees as well. This guidance will support you in complying with accident reporting legislation, otherwise known as RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

Why report and record?

Reports to the HSE under RIDDOR will inform authorities about occupational incidents to allow them to identify how risks arise and whether they need to be investigated. Recording incidents is also important to employers so that sufficient information can be collected to effectively manage the health and safety risks present in the workplace. This information can support employees by knowing that health and safety and their wellbeing remains a priority, whilst being able to identify additional controls needed to improve conditions and prevent recurrences.

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 and requires employers, self-employed and persons in control of premises to report and keep records of specified workplace incidents.

This includes:

  • Work-related deaths
  • Certain serious injuries (reportable injuries)
  • Diagnosed cases of industrial diseases
  • Certain dangerous occurrences (near miss incidents)
  • Injuries to workers which result in more than seven days of absence from their normal work activities
  • Injuries to non-workers linked to work activities that result in them being taken directly to hospital for treatment

How do I report under RIDDOR to the HSE?

In the event of a fatality, this must be reported as soon as physically possible to the HSE, and they have a dedicated phone line on 0345 300 9923.

Other incidents should be reported as soon as possible, but ideally within 10 days of the event, except for an absence longer than seven days which can be reported within 15 days. Whilst some online health and safety management systems will offer RIDDOR reporting as one of their features, the easiest way to report to the HSE is through their website with a form submission here.

Information that must be provided includes:

  • Date of report
  • Date, time and location of the incident
  • Personal details (name, job title, address etc.) of the person(s) involved
  • Description of the injury, illness or occurrence

What do I need to report?

RIDDOR focuses on reportable injuries, diseases and occurrences including:

Reportable injuries:

  • Fractures (not including fingers or toes)
  • Amputations
  • Permanent loss or reduction in sight
  • Crush injuries to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or organs
  • Serious burns covering more than 10% of the body
  • Scalping that requires hospital treatment
  • Loss of consciousness through head injury or asphyxia
  • Injury arising from working in an enclosed space

Reportable occupational diseases:

  • Occupational asthma
  • Tendonitis or tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Hand arm vibrating syndrome
  • Occupational dermatitis

Reportable dangerous occurrences:

  • Collapse, overturning or failure of load bearing parts of lifting equipment
  • Explosion, collapse or bursting of a closed vessel or associated pipework
  • Failure of freight container in any of its load bearing parts
  • Plant or equipment encountering overhead power lines
  • Accidental release of biological agents with potential to cause severe human illness
  • Malfunction of breathing apparatus while in use or during its testing
  • Unintended collision of a train with any vehicle
  • Collapse, or partial collapse, of a scaffold over 5m high or erected near water

RIDDOR reporting of Covid-19

Reporting requirements relating to cases of, or death from, Covid-19 under RIDDOR apply only to occupational exposure as a result of that person’s work. You should only make a report under RIDDOR when one of the following circumstances applies:

  • An accident or incident at work has, or could have, led to the release or escape of coronavirus – dangerous occurrence
  • A person at work has been diagnosed as having Covid-19 attributed to an occupational exposure to coronavirus – occupational disease
  • A worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus – fatality

Getting it right

Reporting under RIDDOR to the HSE ensures legal compliance, but it’s not just about that. In health and safety, we always consider the moral, legal and financial obligations that employers have to prevent incidents occurring in the workplace. We also find that companies managing health and safety well will also manage other business systems well – there is always good synergy between the processes. Furthermore, a workforce that knows their employer is remaining compliant and taking an active role in investigating and reporting incidents will be more productive and have a higher morale as they know that their wellbeing is a priority.

Contact SSG to see how we can help further to carry out effective incident investigations and install health and safety management systems to support you and your workforce.

Source: David Wright