On 1 October 2013 changes were introduced to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). It is good news for employers as it will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses. The changes have come about following a recommendation by Professor Lofsteadt in a report commission by the government.
The classification of major injuries is replaced with a shorter list of specified injuries. Previously there were 47 types of industrial diseases that could be recorded this has now been replaced with just 8 categories of reportable work related illness. These can be found on the HSE website.
The term “accident” is defined by RIDDOR as a discrete, identifiable unintended incident which causes physical injury. This includes non consensual violence to people at work.
There must be an identifiable event to the external body with causes injury. Cumulative exposures to hazards which eventually cause injury i.e. repetitive lifting are not classed as accidents under RIDDOR.
RIDDOR only require accidents to be reported if they arise “out of or in connection with work”.
Fewer dangerous occurrences will require reporting. It is still mandatory to report all fatal accidents, accidents to the public and accidents which result in a worker being incapacitated for more than 7 consecutive days (but not including the day of the accident but including Saturdays and Sundays). The report must be completed and sent to the HSE within 15 days of the accident.
Incapacitation means that the worker is absent, or is unable to do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of their normal work. The accident must be reported in an accident book under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, that record can also be treated as a record for the purposes of RIDDOR.
For further information about RIDDOR please contact Sally Rissbrook: sally.rissbrook@irwinmitchell.com
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