What is RIDDOR and What Must be Reported?


RIDDOR is a UK health and safety legislation that requires employers, self - employed and anyone in charge of premises, to record and report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences.

It is an unfortunate truth that accidents within the workplace happen on a regular basis. According to the HSE Health and Safety at Work report, in 2020/21, an estimated 441,000 injuries occurred at work and 1.7 million working people were suffering from a new or ongoing work-related illness. In this article we will discuss RIDDOR; what it means, what needs to be reported and the importance of ensuring accidents are reported to prevent further incidents from occurring.

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR is a UK health and safety legislation that requires employers, self - employed and anyone in charge of premises, to record and report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences. 

RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.The regulations identify reportable accidents, injuries and illnesses within the workplace, they state how to report and the timeframe in which these should be completed by.

What Must be Reported Under RIDDOR?

The reportable incidents under RIDDOR include:

  • Workplace deaths (excluding suicide).

  • Injuries to workers that result in incapacitation for more than seven consecutive days.

  • Injuries to non-workers that result in them being taken directly to hospital for treatment, or specified injuries to non-workers that occur on hospital premises.

  • Occupational diseases.

  • Certain ‘dangerous occurrences’ (near-miss incidents).

  • Incidents involving gases.

For further guidance about reporting to RIDDOR for COVID-19 incidents, visit the HSE’s RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19 page.

In terms of reporting the incident, you must include the following:

  • The date of the report.

  • The date, time and location of the incident.

  • Personal details of the person reporting the incident; name, job title, DOB, contact number.

  • Company details; name, address and contact details.

  • Personal details of all those involved; name, job title, DOB, contact number.

  • A thorough description of the injury, illness or occurrence.

Why is it Important to Record and Report Accidents Under RIDDOR?

Aside from the fact that it is a legal requirement for all companies to record and report accidents within the workplace. RIDDOR allows the UK government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to keep record of the incidents which allows them to identify occupational risks, sources of diseases and whether investigations need to occur. In turn, working to improve the safety of the UK workforce.

The RIDDOR legislation holds the employers responsible for negligence or poor working environments and behaviours. Holding them accountable; in practice, this ensures companies put in place “bullet-proof” health and safety procedures and encourage their teams to follow them to prevent accidents from occuring.

For companies, RIDDOR reporting can provide valuable data so that health and safety risks can be managed effectively. This information can also be used to create and update risk assessments, develop and install solutions within the workplace to minimise risks and reduce costs from injury and workplace absences.

If a company chooses to ignore RIDDOR and fails to report an incident, they are effectively breaking the law and can be hit with a large fine, a custodial sentence, a claim against employers for accident at work compensation which in turn can have a big impact on a company's reputation.

When do I Need to Report an Incident on RIDDOR?

Ideally all incidents should be reported without delay however the deadline is within 10 days of an incident. The easiest method is via the HSE online form. For fatal accidents or specified injuries reports can be made over the phone.

For accidents resulting in incapacitation for more than seven consecutive days, employers have up to 15 days to notify the authority. Cases of occupational disease should be reported once a confirmed diagnosis has been made.

What RIDDOR Training can Skills Training Centre Provide?

At Skills Training Centre we offer a vast range of training that can support companies with RIDDOR and further health and safety guidance. We have an E-Learning programme on RIDDOR which can be purchased from our website. The programme will help the user understand the necessary requirements of RIDDOR, what to be aware of when reporting, the various methods and the roles and responsibilities regarding RIDDOR. 

We also have a wide range of useful training courses which will assist with accurate RIDDOR reporting and also will aim to decrease the risks of injury and accidents within a workplace. Our Risk Assessment training course allows attendees to understand the differences between hazards and risks, it will teach them how to write an effective risk assessment and method statement and to be aware of the legal responsibilities. We also have a School Risk Assessment training course which focuses on specific risks within a school environment, perfect for Headteachers and Caretakers.

Skills Training Centre also runs a Health and Safety Awareness course which covers accident reporting, a range of workplace incidents, first aid and risk prevention. We also have a  Health and Safety - Catering training course which covers specific food related risks and injuries and how to respond to these safely. Finally we have a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health & Personal Protective Equipment training course which aims to raise awareness about the responsibilities and duties and what appropriate COSHH and PPE equipment is required to reduce specific incidents.

We are able to provide a wide range of both generic and bespoke health and safety training solutions. These range from basic risk assessments to health and safety consultancy. All of our courses are designed to be relevant and cost effective and are delivered to high standards. Our instructors are professional and experienced in their respective fields and take into account the needs of individuals with different skills, abilities and experience.

Can Skills Training Centre train a small number of our team?

Your staff can join one of the scheduled public courses that we provide for our popular programmes. If we don’t have a scheduled course, we can either link your staff with others to provide a cost effective programme for you, or put your staff onto a waiting list and advise you of the likely timescale for the next course.

Does Skills Training Centre do in-company training?

If you have a group of staff, we can provide standard courses at our Training Centre in North London or conveniently at your own venue, providing you have access to the appropriate facilities. This may prove more cost effective and minor amendments can sometimes be incorporated to suit your specific requirements.

If you wish to gain further insight into our Health and Safety and RIDDOR training and e-learning courses and what Skills Training Centre can provide for you, please get in touch.

Writing an accident at work report

All blogs

Website design and development by Serenity Digital. Powered by Serenity Source.

Payment powered by:Stripe logo