RIDDOR Employers Responsibilities

As mentioned above RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences, and the Regulations were passed in 2013. It is crucial to prevent workplace accidents and manage risks to protect employees and maintain a safe work environment. A thorough risk assessment is essential in preventing workplace accidents and managing risks under RIDDOR. Under RIDDOR regulations, responsible persons such as employers, self-employed people, and anyone in control of business premises are legally required to report specified workplace RIDDOR reportable incidents. This also includes RIDDOR reports on non-consensual violence to employees whilst they are working.

• Employers responsibilities for RIDDOR include Deaths and Injuries: If someone had died or been injured because of a work-related accident, this may need to be reported. Not all workplace accidents need to be reported, except for certain gas incidents, a RIDDOR report is only required when:
• Reportable injuries under RIDDOR also apply if the accident is work-related. Incident investigation plays a crucial role in understanding the causes of reportable incidents and preventing future occurrences.
• It results in an injury type that is classified as one of the specified injuries under RIDDOR regulations.

The death of any person: All deaths of workers and non-workers, except for suicides must be reported according to RIDDOR regulations if they arise from a work-related accident, RIDDOR reportable incidents also include an act of physical violence to a worker.

Occupational health plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of workers by monitoring and reporting injuries and diseases under RIDDOR.

In addition to injuries, employers must also report diagnoses of reportable occupational diseases that are likely caused or exacerbated by work.

Employees play a crucial role in reporting accidents to ensure compliance with RIDDOR regulations and maintain workplace safety.

• RIDDOR reportable injuries include Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs, and toes
• It is important to follow safety protocols to ensure compliance with RIDDOR regulations.
• 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 is classed as a RIDDOR reportable injury.
• Serious burns (including scalding) which:
• Covers more than 10% of the body
• Causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system, or other vital organs
• Reportable injuries under RIDDOR also include 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:
• Reporting injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences employers responsibilities also include injuries leading to hypothermia or heat-induced illness
• Injuries requiring resuscitation or admittance to the hospital for more than 24 hours will also be classed as reportable injuries under RIDDOR.

RIDDOR reportable workplace accidents must be reported where they result in an employee or self-employed person being away from work, or unable to perform their normal work duties, for more than seven consecutive days as the result of their injury. This includes various types of incidents occurring in the workplace, such as those in offshore workplaces, mines, and quarries. Identifying and mitigating workplace hazards plays a crucial role in preventing incidents that lead to over-seven-day incapacitation. This seven-day period does not include the day of the work-related accident but does include weekends and rest days. The RIDDOR report must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Over-three-day incapacitation: RIDDOR reportable accidents must be recorded, but not reported where they result in a worker being incapacitated for more than three consecutive days.

Non-fatal accidents to non-workers (e.g. members of the public): Accidents to members of the public or others who are not at work must be classed as RIDDOR reportable incidents and reported if they result in an injury and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to the hospital for treatment to that injury. Examinations and diagnostic tests do not constitute ‘treatment’ in such circumstances. There is no need to report incidents where people are taken to the hospital purely as a precaution when no injury is apparent.

Other Areas That May Need RIDDOR Reporting

In some circumstances, some occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences also need HSE RIDDOR reporting. It’s an employer’s responsibility under RIDDOR as well as self-employed people to report any of the below reportable work-related illnesses or RIDDOR reportable incidents. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing these regulations and ensuring that employers comply with their reporting obligations.

Regulatory compliance is crucial in ensuring that all reportable incidents and diseases are properly reported under RIDDOR.

Occupational diseases:

• 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 occupational exposure to a biological agent.

Dangerous occurrences are certain, specified near-miss RIDDOR reportable incident events. Not all such events require reporting.

Safety management plays a crucial role in handling and reporting these dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR.

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;
• The accidental release of any substance which could cause injury to any person.

The Avensure Health & Safety team is happy to talk you through the RIDDOR health and safety procedures businesses need to have in place, so please contact us if you want to discuss your RIDDOR health and safety needs in more detail.