RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) is a cornerstone of health and safety legislation in the UK, yet many organisations struggle to understand exactly what needs to be reported, when, and by whom. Whether you’re an employer, self-employed, in control of work premises, or a health and safety professional, having a thorough understanding of RIDDOR is essential for legal compliance and maintaining workplace safety standards.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about RIDDOR, from basic definitions to specific reporting requirements, timescales, and practical examples to help you navigate this crucial legislation with confidence.
What is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. The current version, RIDDOR 2013, came into force on 1 October 2013, replacing the previous RIDDOR 1995 regulations.
RIDDOR is a set of regulations that requires employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises to report and keep records of:
- Work-related accidents which cause death
- Work-related accidents which cause certain serious injuries (reportable injuries)
- Diagnosed cases of certain industrial diseases
- Certain ‘dangerous occurrences’ (incidents with the potential to cause harm)
- Gas incidents
The Purpose of RIDDOR
RIDDOR serves several important functions in the UK health and safety system:
- Data collection – It provides valuable statistical information about workplace accidents and ill health across the UK, helping to identify trends and areas of concern.
- Risk identification – It helps the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities identify where and how risks arise.
- Investigation – It allows the relevant enforcing authorities to investigate serious incidents and ensure duty-holders are managing risks appropriately.
- Targeting – It helps authorities focus resources and advice on prevention strategies where they’re most needed.
- Compliance – It ensures employers and others meet their legal duty to report certain incidents.
The Legal Framework
RIDDOR 2013 is made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It applies to all work activities in Great Britain but not Northern Ireland, which has separate regulations.
The regulations place duties on:
- Employers
- Self-employed people
- People in control of work premises
- Gas engineers and suppliers (for gas incidents)
Failure to report incidents under RIDDOR is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution, with penalties including fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment.
What Must Be Reported Under RIDDOR?
RIDDOR requires the reporting of specific types of incidents. Let’s break these down in detail:
1. Deaths
All deaths to workers and non-workers that arise from a work-related accident must be reported. This includes deaths that occur within one year of a work-related accident.
However, suicides are not reportable, nor are deaths from natural causes unrelated to work activities, even if they happen at a workplace.
2. Specified Injuries to Workers
The following serious injuries must be reported when they affect workers:
- Fractures (other than to fingers, thumbs and toes)
- Amputations (loss of a limb or part of a limb)
- Permanent loss or reduction of sight
- Crush injuries leading to internal organ damage
- Serious burns (covering more than 10% of the body, or damaging the eyes, respiratory system or vital organs)
- Scalping requiring hospital treatment
- Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
- Any injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia, heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or hospital admission for more than 24 hours
3. Over-Seven-Day Injuries to Workers
If a worker is away from work or unable to perform their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident but including weekends and rest days), the injury must be reported.
4. Injuries to Non-Workers
If a non-worker (e.g., a member of the public, visitor, or client) is injured in connection with your work activities and is taken directly to hospital for treatment, this is reportable. Note that there is no requirement for the person to actually be admitted to hospital – simply attending A&E is sufficient to trigger the reporting requirement.
5. Occupational Diseases
When a medical practitioner diagnoses one of the following conditions, and it’s likely to have been caused or made worse by work activities, it must be reported:
- 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
6. Dangerous Occurrences
These are specific ‘near-miss’ events that don’t result in injury but have the potential to cause significant harm. There are 27 categories of dangerous occurrences, including:
- Collapse or failure of lifting equipment
- Explosion or fire causing work suspension for over 24 hours
- Accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness
- Failure of breathing apparatus
- Collapse of scaffolding
- Electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion
- Unintended collapse of a building, wall, or floor
- Unintended explosion or misfire of explosives
- Dangerous gas leaks and releases
7. Gas Incidents
The following gas incidents must be reported by registered gas engineers:
- Death, loss of consciousness, or hospital attendance due to carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances or flues
- Incidents where someone could have been killed, unconscious, or taken to hospital due to gas but early action prevented it
- Gas appliances or fittings found to be dangerous due to design, construction, installation, modification, or servicing
Reporting Timescales
RIDDOR specifies different reporting deadlines depending on the type of incident:
- Deaths and specified injuries: Report without delay (normally within 10 days)
- Over-seven-day injuries: Report within 15 days of the accident
- Occupational diseases: Report without delay upon diagnosis
- Dangerous occurrences: Report without delay (normally within 10 days)
- Gas incidents: Report without delay (normally within 10 days)
It’s worth noting that “without delay” generally means as soon as practicable, which the HSE typically interprets as within 10 days.
How to Report Under RIDDOR
Reports should be made to the HSE (or, in some cases, the local authority) via:
- Online reporting system – The preferred method for most incidents is through the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor
- Telephone – For fatal and specified major injuries only, you can call the Incident Contact Centre on 0345 300 9923 (open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm)
When making a report, you’ll need to provide:
- Details about your organisation
- When and where the incident happened
- Details of the injured person(s)
- A description of what happened
- Details of any injuries sustained or diseases contracted
Record Keeping Requirements
In addition to reporting, RIDDOR requires records to be kept of all reportable incidents. These records must include:
- Date and time of the incident
- Details of the affected person (name, occupation)
- Details of the injury, disease, or dangerous occurrence
- Place where the incident happened
- Brief description of the circumstances
Records can be kept in any format (electronic or paper) but must be readily accessible and maintained for at least three years from the date of the incident.
RIDDOR in Practice: Examples
To illustrate how RIDDOR works in real-world situations, here are some practical examples:
Example 1: Reportable Specified Injury
A warehouse operative falls from a ladder while stacking shelves, breaking his arm. This is a specified injury (fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes) and must be reported without delay.
Example 2: Over-Seven-Day Injury
An office worker slips on a wet floor, spraining her ankle. She is unable to perform her normal duties for ten days. This must be reported as an over-seven-day injury within 15 days of the accident.
Example 3: Non-Worker Injury
A customer in a shop trips over poorly positioned stock and is taken to A&E with a suspected broken wrist. This must be reported as an injury to a non-worker without delay.
Example 4: Occupational Disease
A factory worker who regularly uses vibrating tools is diagnosed by his GP with hand-arm vibration syndrome. The employer must report this diagnosis without delay.
Example 5: Dangerous Occurrence
A tower crane partially collapses on a construction site, but no one is injured. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence without delay.
Example 6: Gas Incident
A gas engineer finds a dangerously faulty boiler installation that could have led to carbon monoxide poisoning. This must be reported without delay.
Common RIDDOR Mistakes
And how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Not Recognising Reportable Incidents
Solution: Create a clear flowchart or checklist for managers to help them identify what’s reportable.
Mistake 2: Missing Reporting Deadlines
Solution: Implement a system that flags approaching deadlines for over-seven-day injuries.
Mistake 3: Under-reporting Dangerous Occurrences
Solution: Train staff to recognise and report near-misses, even if no injury occurred.
Mistake 4: Focusing Only on Immediate Injuries
Solution: Create systems to track longer-term conditions and occupational diseases.
Mistake 5: Inadequate Record Keeping
Solution: Establish a centralised RIDDOR reporting and record-keeping system.
RIDDOR vs Other Reporting Requirements
It’s important to understand that RIDDOR reporting is separate from other workplace reporting requirements:
- Accident Book Records – All workplace accidents should be recorded in the accident book, regardless of whether they’re RIDDOR reportable.
- RIDDOR Reporting – Only specific incidents meeting the criteria outlined above must be reported to the HSE.
- Insurance Claims – Reports to insurers are separate from RIDDOR requirements.
- Internal Investigations – Companies should investigate all incidents according to their own procedures, regardless of RIDDOR status.
RIDDOR for Specific Industries
While the core RIDDOR requirements apply across all industries, certain sectors have additional or specific reporting requirements:
Construction
The construction industry has specific dangerous occurrences that must be reported, including:
- Collapse of scaffolding
- Failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
- Unintended collapse of a wall, floor, or building
- Unintended contact with overhead power lines
Healthcare
Healthcare settings have specific considerations for:
- Injuries to patients during medical treatment
- Sharps injuries and exposure to bloodborne pathogens
- Hospital-acquired infections (some may be reportable as biological agent exposure)
Education
Educational institutions need to consider:
- Injuries to pupils/students during supervised activities
- Incidents in laboratories or workshops
- Sports injuries (which may be reportable depending on circumstances)
Offshore
Offshore installations have slightly different reporting requirements under RIDDOR, including:
- Different timescales for some reports
- Additional categories of dangerous occurrences
- Special requirements for diving operations
The Benefits of Effective RIDDOR Management
Beyond legal compliance, effective RIDDOR management offers several benefits:
- Improved safety culture – Recognising and reporting incidents raises awareness and improves safety consciousness.
- Early intervention – Identifying patterns in minor incidents can help prevent more serious accidents.
- Cost reduction – Fewer accidents means reduced absence, lower insurance premiums, and fewer disruptions.
- Better risk assessment – RIDDOR data helps identify areas for improvement in risk assessments.
- Enhanced reputation – Demonstrating commitment to health and safety improves relationships with employees, customers, and regulators.
Conclusion
RIDDOR is a vital tool in the UK’s health and safety framework, providing crucial data and triggering investigations when things go wrong. Understanding what needs to be reported, when, and how is an essential part of health and safety management for any organisation.
By implementing robust systems for identifying, reporting, and recording RIDDOR incidents, organisations can not only ensure legal compliance but also contribute to building safer workplaces across the UK.
Remember, RIDDOR is not just about ticking regulatory boxes—it’s about learning from incidents to prevent future harm. Each report contributes to the national picture of workplace risks and helps shape prevention strategies that protect workers across all industries.
Find out more about managing your health and safety duties with our accredited Health and Safety Management Course.
Further Resources
For more information on RIDDOR, consult these authoritative sources:
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