What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) is the law that requires employers, and other people in control of work premises, to report and keep records of:

• work-related accidents which cause death;

• work-related accidents which cause certain serious injuries (reportable injuries);

• diagnosed cases of certain industrial diseases; and

• certain ‘dangerous occurrences’ (incidents with the potential to cause harm).

Reporting certain incidents is a legal requirement. The report informs the enforcing authorities (HSE, local authorities and the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR)) about deaths, injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences, so they can identify where and how risks arise, and whether they need to be investigated.

Reportable injuries

Deaths: All deaths to workers and non-workers must be reported if they arise from a work-related accident, including an act of physical violence to a worker.

Specified injuries to workers: The list of ‘specified injuries’ in RIDDOR 2013 (regulation 4) includes:

• a fracture, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes;

• amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe;

• permanent loss of sight or reduction of sight;

• crush injuries leading to internal organ damage;

• serious burns (covering more than 10% of the body, or damaging the eyes,

• respiratory system or other vital organs);

• scalpings (separation of skin from the head) which require hospital treatment;

• unconsciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia;

• any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space, which leads to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.

Over-seven-day injuries to workers: This is where an employee, or self-employed person, is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than seven consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident).

Reportable occupational 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. These diseases include (regulations 8 and 9):

• carpal tunnel syndrome;

• severe cramp of the hand or forearm;

• occupational dermatitis;

• hand-arm vibration syndrome;

• occupational asthma;

• tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm;

• any occupational cancer;

• any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent.

Reportable dangerous occurrences

Dangerous occurrences are certain, specified ‘near-miss’ events (incidents with the potential to cause harm.) Not all such events require reporting. There are 27 categories of dangerous occurrences that are relevant to most workplaces. For example:

• the collapse, overturning or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment,

• plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines,

• explosions or fires causing work to be stopped for more than 24 hours,

• Certain additional categories of dangerous occurrences apply to mines, quarries, offshore workplaces and certain transport systems (railways etc).

Records of incidents covered by RIDDOR are also important. They ensure that you collect sufficient information to allow you to properly manage health and safety risks. 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.

For any further information on what RIDDOR is, or to discuss any issues you may have, please contact us here.