RIDDOR is an acronym for the “Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
This is a regulation that places a duty on employers to report to the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) who are a government department responsible for health and safety compliance / enforcement in the UK. The requirement to make the report depends on many factors.
The categories fall into these: Deaths, Specified Injuries, Over seven day Incapacitation, Non-fatal accidents to non-workers (Injuries to others / those not at work), some occupational diseases (from asbestos for instance), Dangerous Occurrences and Gas Incidents – these are summarised below.
- Death of any person arising from any work activity or connected to a work activity. This requires immediate reporting.
- Injuries to employees that are listed by the HSE as “specified injuries” as shown below, these must be reported as soon as possible, but always within 10 days of the incident.
- fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
- amputations
- any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight
- any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs
- serious burns (including scalding) which:
- covers more than 10% of the body
- causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs
- any scalping requiring hospital treatment
- any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
- any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which:
- leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness
- requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours
- Any injury that incapacitates the employee for more than seven calendar days – so if the employee is off sick following a workplace accident, day one is the day after the accident and if they still haven’t returned on day seven (weekends and bank holidays etc still count as days even if the person doesn’t usually work those days) then the incident is usually reportable. This must be done within 15 days of the accident.
- Non-fatal accidents to non-workers - Any injury to a non-employee (a visitor for instance) where the injury emanates from the work activity and results in the person going directly from the scene to hospital. There must be treatment at the hospital, and not just a “just in case” hospital visit where no actual injury is treated. The injury must have been a result of the work activity.
- Occupational Diseases - If the disease is likely to be caused by or made worse by the work activities then it is reportable.
- Dangerous Occurrences - These are incidents that have potential to cause injury or ill health, there is a list published by the HSE showing exactly which ones are reportable, but an example could be: a collapse of a wall of ceiling, collapse of lifting equipment, unintentional release of dangerous substance such as Asbestos or F-Gas. There are many more and the requirements change, so check hse.gov.uk/riddor to be sure.
- Gas Incidents - Leakage of gas, inadequate combustion of a gas, issues identified with a flue that removes the dangerous fumes from gas combustion may also be reportable, again the HSE website referred to above will provide a current list.
Reports must be made as soon as possible either at http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm or in the case of fatal incidents (or major incidents) you can call the HSE contact centre on: 0345 300 9923.
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