What must be recorded under RIDDOR regulations 2013?
Last updated:The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) is the law that requires employers, and other people in control of work premises, to report and keep records of:
• Work related incidents which cause death.
• Work related incidents which cause certain serious injuries (specified reportable injuries).
• Diagnosed cases of certain industrial occupational illnesses / diseases and.
• Certain ‘dangerous occurrences’ as outlined in RIDDOR.
When deciding if the incident or injury is work-related, the key issues to consider are whether the incident was related to:
• The way the work was organised, carried out or supervised.
• Any machinery, plant, substances or equipment used for work.
• The condition of the site or premises where the accident happened.
2.1 RIDDOR Reportable Deaths
All work-related deaths to employees and non-employees must be reported immediately to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 0345 300 9923.
NB: A report of the work-related death must be received by the HSE within 10 days of the incident.
2.2 RIDDOR Reportable Specified Injuries
To Employees:
• Fractures other than to fingers, thumbs or toes.
• Amputation.
• Permanent blinding or reduction in sight.
• Crush injury to head or torso.
• Serious burns or scalding covering more than 10% of the body or damage to eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs.
• Scalping.
• Loss of conscious caused by head injury or asphyxia.
• Any injury resulting from working in an enclosed space (for example a cold store).
Further guidance on specified injuries can be found here HSE Reportable Specified Injuries
The HSE should be notified within 10 days of the incident.
Over-7-day incapacitation of an employee:
An incident is RIDDOR reportable when an employee, or self-employed person, is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days as a result of their injury. This 7-day period does not include the day of the incident but does include weekends and rest days.
Where the worker’s injury or condition does not become apparent until some time after the accident, it must be reported as soon as it has prevented them from doing their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days.
Accidents resulting in the over-7-day incapacitation of an employee must be notified to the HSE within 15 days of the incident.
To non-employees:
Work related incidents involving members of the public or people who are not at work must be reported if a person is injured and is taken from the scene of the incident to hospital for treatment to that injury. Examinations and diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, do not count as 'treatment'. However, you must report treatment that involves the person having:
• a dressing applied
• stitches
• a plaster cast
• surgery
There is no need to RIDDOR report incidents where people are taken to hospital purely as a precaution when no injury is apparent.
2.3 RIDDOR Reportable Occupational Illnesses and Diseases
Employers and self-employed people must report diagnoses of certain occupational diseases, where these are likely to have been caused or made worse by their work. A reportable disease must be diagnosed by a Doctor.
These reportable diseases include:
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools).
• Cramp of the hand or forearm (where the person’s work involves prolonged periods of repetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm).
• Occupational dermatitis (where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant).
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools, or holding materials subject to percussive processes, or processes causing vibration).
• Occupational asthma (where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitiser).
• Tendonitis or tenosynovitis (in the hand or forearm, where the person’s work is physically demanding and involves frequent, repetitive movements).
Occupational cancers
Cases of cancer must be reported where there is an established causal link between:
• the type of cancer diagnosed, and
• the hazards to which the person has been exposed through work. These hazards include all known human carcinogens and mutagens, including ionising radiation.
For example, the following diagnosed occupational cancers must be reported:
• mesothelioma or lung cancer in a person who is occupationally exposed to asbestos fibres
• cancer of the nasal cavity or sinuses in a person who is occupationally exposed to wood dust
Biological agents
All diseases must be reported when there is a causal link between an occupational exposure and a biological agent.
Occupational exposures to biological agents may happen as a result of:
• an identifiable incident, such as accidentally breaking a laboratory flask, accidental injury with a contaminated syringe needle, or an animal bite
• unidentified incidents, where workers are exposed to the agent without their knowledge, for example where a worker is exposed to legionella bacteria during routine maintenance on a hot water service system
Further guidance on occupational illnesses and diseases can be found in the link below:
HSE Reportable Occupational Diseases
2.4 RIDDOR Reportable Dangerous Occurrences
A dangerous occurrence is one which ‘arises out of or in connection with work’ and could risk harm to others. Not all of these events need to be reported. Reportable Dangerous Occurrences examples include:
• Structural collapse associated with ongoing construction, maintenance and demolition work.
• Complete or partial collapse of scaffolding.
• Collapse or overturning of any lifting equipment whether it is used for lifting goods, materials or people.
• Explosion of closed vessel or causing serious fire.
• Release of any substance or biological agent which may cause damage to health.
• Plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power cables.
• Electrical incidents causing explosion or fire.
• Explosion or fire at work premises causing the suspension of work activities for more than 24 hours.
• Incidents arising in work situations from the use, manufacture or storage of explosives.
• Collision of a train with a vehicle.
• Malfunction of electrical equipment which emits ionising radiation.
• Malfunction of breathing apparatus for underwater or contaminated atmospheres either during use or during testing before use.
• Release of flammable liquids and gases (for example due to the sudden failure of a storage vessel) where the release, if ignited, would cause a major explosion or fire.
Further guidance on dangerous occurrences can be found here HSE Reportable Dangerous Occurrences
2.5 RIDDOR Reportable Gas Incidents
Distributors, fillers, importers & suppliers of flammable gas must report incidents where someone has died, lost consciousness, or been taken to hospital for treatment to an injury arising in connection with that gas. Such incidents should be reported using the Report of a Flammable Gas Incident - online form.
Gas Safe Registered engineers must provide details of any gas appliances or fittings they consider to be dangerous anywhere where people could die, lose consciousness or require hospital treatment. This includes domestic premises.
Further guidance on reportable gas incidents can be found here Types of reportable incidents - HSE