RIDDOR, or the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, is a piece of legislation designed to keep workplaces accountable when work-related injuries and illnesses occur. But what exactly does it cover and why should employers care? An understanding of RIDDOR is something that every employer should be equipped with so read on to learn more.

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR requires employers to report and keep records of all:

• Work related fatalities
• Work related injuries
• Diagnosed cases of occupational diseases
• Incidents with potential to cause harm

This information must be reported to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) who are a national governing body or to the relevant local authority. The aim is to help regulatory bodies monitor and investigate serious workplace incidents, ensuring that safety standards are upheld and improvements are made where necessary. The legislation applies to all workplaces in the UK. Employers, the self-employed, and those in control of work premises all have responsibilities under RIDDOR.

Who needs to report under RIDDOR?

Not everyone in the workplace is responsible for RIDDOR reporting. Generally, the responsibility falls on the employer, site manager or person in charge of work activities. In some cases, self-employed individuals must report their own injuries or incidents if they happen in connection with their work. Employees do not have a direct duty to report under RIDDOR, but they should report workplace accidents to their employer so the appropriate steps can be taken. Likewise the injured person (unless self-employed) and members of the public are not required to report. If a worker or member of the public is concerned that an incident has not been reported, they can raise the issue with HSE or their local authority.

What needs to be reported under RIDDOR?

Not all workplace incidents require reporting. RIDDOR covers specific categories of serious workplace occurrences:

• Fatalities: any death resulting from a work-related incident.
• Specified injuries: these include fractures (excluding fingers and toes), amputations, crush injuries, serious burns, loss of consciousness caused by injury or asphyxia, any scalping requiring hospital treatment, injuries leading to loss of sight and any other injury that leads to hypothermia, heat induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• Over-seven-day injuries: if an employee is unable to work for more than seven consecutive days following an incident it must be reported within 15 days of the accident.
• Accidents involving non-workers: when members of the public, customers or volunteers are injured and taken to hospital for treatment then it must be reported.
• Occupational diseases: conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational asthma, HAVS, cramp, tendonitis, tenosynovitis and dermatitis, when caused by work activities, fall under RIDDOR.
• Carcinogens, mutagens and biological agents: diseases must be reported when there is a causal link between an occupational exposure and illness.
• Dangerous occurrences: these are near misses with the potential to cause serious harm, such as gas leaks, equipment failures or structural collapses.
• Gas incidents: gas engineers and suppliers must report incidents involving gas when someone has died, lost consciousness or been taken to hospital for treatment.

How to report a RIDDOR incident

Reporting a RIDDOR incident is a straightforward process but must be done correctly. Reports can be submitted online via the HSE website using the appropriate forms for each type of incident. In cases of fatalities or major incidents, a separate telephone line is available for immediate reporting. Once a report is filed, the HSE may investigate the incident, particularly if it suggests serious breaches of health and safety regulations. Employers must cooperate fully with any follow-up inquiries.

Record-keeping responsibilities

Aside from reporting, employers must also maintain proper records of workplace incidents. These records should include details such as the date, time, place of the event, personal details of those involved and a brief description of the nature of the incident or disease. Records should be kept for at least three years, though many businesses opt to retain them for longer as part of their internal safety monitoring and legal processes.

Who oversees RIDDOR compliance in the workplace?

Within an organisation, RIDDOR compliance is typically managed by health and safety officers or HR departments. However, ultimate responsibility lies with the employer or duty holder.

Larger businesses often have dedicated health and safety teams to ensure compliance, while smaller organisations may rely on external occupational health providers for guidance and support.

The importance of RIDDOR

Accidents and illnesses are sometimes unavoidable, but learning from them isn’t. Proper reporting helps identify patterns of accidents, allowing businesses to take proactive measures to prevent future injuries or hazards. By understanding what needs to be reported and taking the necessary steps to comply, employers can protect their workforce, stay on the right side of the law and contribute to a safer working environment.