Reporting injuries and accidents

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, commonly known as RIDDOR 1995, require the reporting of certain specified work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the proper enforcing authority. The purpose of the regulations is to enable the enforcing authorities to identify where and how risks arise and to investigate serious accidents. These regulations apply to all work activities, but not to all incidents.

What to report

Under the regulations an employer is required to notify the enforcing authority if there is an accident (including acts of physical violence) connected with work, and the accident results in:

• A fatality to anyone
• A major injury to employees
• An employee having to take more than three consecutive days off work
• An injury to non-employees that requires hospital treatment
• One of the specified dangerous occurrences
• Death of an employee within one year of being injured.

There are also provisions relating to various 'work-related diseases'.

Who to notify

The easiest way to report an incident is to call the Incident Contact Centre on 0845 300 99 23.

You will be sent a copy of the information recorded and you will be able to correct any errors or omissions.

When to notify

Notification is required in differing timescales depending on the seriousness of the incident but generally speaking the notification should be by telephone as soon as possible giving brief details about the organisation, the injured person and the accident.

Record-keeping

The employer must keep records of reportable accidents for at least three years, generally, in an Accident Book. A photocopy of the form submitted to the enforcing authority is acceptable.

This must include 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. 

For further information, see the Health and Safety Executive website.

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