What is RIDDOR and why is it important?

RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) is a UK health and safety legislation. It pertains to all ‘responsible persons’ and makes it compulsory for them to accurately report and keep a record of certain injuries and incidents which happen in the workplace. This applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

RIDDOR is important because it keeps businesses of 5 or more employees accountable for safety, installing measures to keep employees safe and encourages everyone to follow health and safety procedures at work.

Employers are legally required to report all incidents, regardless of how big or small they are, as well as ill health, at work. A record of all incidents must be maintained to be legally compliant.

RIDDOR reports are only necessary for reportable accidents related to work so you don’t need to inform enforcing authorities of all accidents.

What do you need to report under RIDDOR?

• Deaths
• Specified injuries
• Over seven day injuries
• Injuries to people not at work
• Various work related diseases
• Dangerous occurrences
• Gas incidents

If the below are likely to have been caused or worsened via work practices, they are considered occupational diseases and need to be reported under RIDDOR:

• Extreme cramp of the forearm or hand
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the forearm or hand
• Hand-arm vibration syndrome
• Occupational dermatitis
• Occupational asthma
• All occupational cancer
• Any diseases caught via occupational exposure to a biological agent

Gas Incidents

Certain gas incidents must be reported to the HSE. Distributors, fillers, importers and suppliers of flammable gas must report incidents if someone has lost consciousness, has an injury resulting in hospitalisation due gas they were responsible for or has died. Gas engineers need to provide details of appliances or fittings they deem a danger to life or could cause unconsciousness or hospitalisation. This can be a result of poor design or fitting which could produce a gas leak, as an example.

 How to manage your RIDDOR records

If the below are likely to have been caused or worsened via work practices, they are considered occupational diseases and need to be reported under RIDDOR:

• Extreme cramp of the forearm or hand
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the forearm or hand
• Hand-arm vibration syndrome
• Occupational dermatitis
• Occupational asthma
• All occupational cancer
• Any diseases caught via occupational exposure to a biological agent

Gas Incidents

Certain gas incidents must be reported to the HSE. Distributors, fillers, importers and suppliers of flammable gas must report incidents if someone has lost consciousness, has an injury resulting in hospitalisation due gas they were responsible for or has died. Gas engineers need to provide details of appliances or fittings they deem a danger to life or could cause unconsciousness or hospitalisation. This can be a result of poor design or fitting which could produce a gas leak, as an example.

How to keep your RIDDOR records

• All records must be stored at least 3 years – it’s recommended to keep for 5-6 years in case there is litigation
• If the records are not kept securely or confidentially, they are in breach of Data Protection law
• All records must be reported to the HSE within 10 days of the incident

If that sounds like a paperwork nightmare, you are right! Can you be sure that all records are completed, that folders are never accessible by staff, and that the HSE reporting is complete?