The Environmental Health department receives notifications of
reportable accidents and incidents that are work related.
Some of those notifications will require further
investigation. The form of this investigation will vary
depending upon circumstances. It may be as simple as the
employer or injured person being contacted for further information
about the circumstances of the accident or incident or it may
require on site investigations or inspection.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) is the
law that requires employers and anyone else with responsibility for
health and safety within a workplace, to report and keep records
of:-
- work-related deaths;
- serious injuries;
- cases of diagnosed industrial disease; and
- certain 'dangerous occurrences' (near miss
accidents)
2012 Change
From 6 April 2012, the over-three-day reporting requirement for
people injured at work has changed. The trigger point has
increased from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation
(not counting the day on which the accident happened, but including
weekends and rest days). The deadline by which the
over-seven-day injury must be reported has also increased to
fifteen days from the day of the accident.
Incapacitation means that the worker is absent or is unable to
do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of
their normal work.
Employers and others with responsibilities under RIDDOR must
still keep a record of all over-three day-injuries. If the
employer has to keep an accident book, then this record will also
be treated as a record for the purposes of RIDDOR.
A leaflet on ‘Reporting accidents and
incidents at work’ (INDG453) has been produced by the
HSE.
What must be Reported?
Detailed guidance is available in 'A guide to the Reporting of
Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
1995'.
How to Report
Online - Go to www.hse.gov.uk/riddor and
complete the appropriate online report form. The form will
then be submitted directly to the RIDDOR database. You will
receive a copy for your records
Telephone - All incidents can
be reported online but a telephone service remains for reporting
fatal and major injuries ONLY. Call the
incident contact centre on 0845 300 9923 (opening hours Monday to
Friday 8.30 to 5 pm)
Why Report and Record?
Reporting and recording is a legal
requirement. The report informs the
enforcing authorities local authorities and the HSE) about deaths,
injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences so they
can identify where and how risks arise, and whether they need to be
investigated. This allows local authorities and the HSE to
target their work and provide advice about how to avoid
work-related deaths, injuries, ill health and accidental loss.
Records of incidents covered
by RIDDOR are also important. They ensure that you collect
the minimum amount of information to allow you to check that you
are doing enough to ensure safety and prevent occupational
diseases. This information is a valuable management tool that
can be used as an aid to risk assessment, helping to develop
solutions to potential risks. In this way, records also help
to prevent injuries and ill health, and control costs from
accidental loss.
You must keep a record
of:-
- any reportable
death, injury, occupational
disease or dangerous occurrence; and
- all occupational accidents and
injuries that result in a worker being away from work or
incapacitated for more than three consecutive days
(not counting the day of the accident but including any weekends or
other rest days).
You must produce RIDDOR records when asked by
local authority or HSE inspectors.
Last Updated - 06/06/2012