What Is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It requires employers, the self-employed, and people in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses) to the HSE.
What Must Be Reported?
The following types of incidents must be reported under RIDDOR:
- Deaths: All deaths arising from work-related accidents
- Specified injuries: Including fractures (other than fingers, thumbs, and toes), amputations, crush injuries, loss of consciousness, and injuries requiring hospital admission for more than 24 hours
- Over-7-day incapacitation: Where an employee is away from work or unable to perform their normal duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident)
- Occupational diseases: Including carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational dermatitis, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma, and tendonitis
- Dangerous occurrences: Near misses with the potential to cause serious harm, such as scaffold collapse, electrical short circuits causing fire, or accidental release of dangerous substances
How to Report
Reports must be made to the HSE. The quickest way is online at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor. Fatal and specified injuries must be reported without delay — initially by telephone on 0345 300 9923, followed by a written report within 10 days.
Over-7-day injuries must be reported within 15 days of the incident.
Record Keeping
You must keep records of all reportable incidents for at least 3 years. This includes the date and method of reporting, the date, time and place of the event, personal details of those involved, and a brief description of the nature of the event or disease.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to report under RIDDOR is a criminal offence. Penalties can include unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. The HSE takes under-reporting seriously, and it can also be an indicator of wider safety management failures.
Not sure if an incident is reportable? Contact our consultancy team for guidance on RIDDOR compliance and accident investigation.
