RIDDOR Reporting Requirements

RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) is the legal framework in Great Britain that requires employers and those responsible for workplaces to report certain serious workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the relevant local authority.

The purpose of RIDDOR is to ensure that serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences are properly recorded and investigated. This supports enforcement action, risk prevention, and improved workplace safety standards across all sectors.

Failure to comply with RIDDOR reporting duties is a criminal offence and can result in enforcement action, fines, and reputational consequences for employers.

Legal Framework for RIDDOR

RIDDOR 2013 sits within wider UK health and safety legislation, including:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
• HSE guidance and enforcement policies

The regulations apply to:

• Employers
• Self-employed persons
• People in control of work premises

The legal duty is not only to manage safety but also to report specific incidents within defined time limits.

What Must Be Reported Under RIDDOR

RIDDOR does not require reporting of all workplace incidents. Reporting is only required when specific thresholds are met. The main categories include:

1. Work-related deaths

Any death arising from a work-related accident must be reported, except in limited circumstances such as certain self-employed situations. If death occurs within 365 days of the injury, it may still be reportable.

2. Specified serious injuries to workers

These include defined “specified injuries” such as:

• Fractures (excluding fingers, thumbs, toes)
• Amputations
• Loss of sight or serious eye injuries
• Crush injuries to head or torso affecting internal organs
• Serious burns covering significant body areas
• Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia

3. Over-seven-day injuries

A report is required if a worker is unable to perform normal duties for more than seven consecutive days due to a work-related accident. The report must be submitted within statutory deadlines.

4. Injuries to non-workers (members of the public)

Reportable where:

• The incident is work-related, and
• The person is taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment (not just precautionary checks)

5. Occupational diseases

Certain work-related diseases must be reported when diagnosed and linked to occupational exposure, including:

• Occupational cancers (e.g. asbestos-related disease)
• Certain musculoskeletal disorders linked to repetitive work
• Other prescribed conditions under RIDDOR schedules

6. Dangerous occurrences

These are “near-miss” events which could have caused serious harm, such as:

• Structural collapse
• Explosion or fire risks
• Failure of lifting equipment
• Release of hazardous substances
  They are reportable even if no injury occurs.

7. Gas incidents

Specific gas-related incidents must be reported, including:

• Death or loss of consciousness
• Hospital treatment following exposure
• Dangerous gas fittings identified by engineers

Who Must Report

The duty to report usually falls on the “responsible person”, which may include:

• Employers
• Self-employed individuals
• Persons in control of premises (e.g. facilities managers, site operators)

In many organisations, reporting is delegated internally, but legal responsibility remains with the duty holder.

Time Limits for Reporting

RIDDOR imposes strict reporting deadlines:

• Deaths, major injuries, and dangerous occurrences: without delay
• Over-seven-day injuries: within 15 days
• Occupational diseases: as soon as diagnosis is confirmed

Reports are usually submitted online via the HSE reporting system.

Failure to report within time limits may itself constitute a breach of law.

What Does “Work-Related” Mean

A key legal requirement is that the incident must be work-related.

This generally means:

• Caused by work activity
• Occurred in connection with work operations
• Not purely due to unrelated medical conditions or external causes

Correct classification is often central in enforcement investigations and tribunal disputes.

Relationship Between RIDDOR and Accident Records

RIDDOR reporting is separate from general workplace accident recording.

Employers must also:

• Maintain an accident book (for all injuries, not just reportable ones)
• Use internal reporting systems
• Review incidents for risk assessment updates

Not every recorded accident is reportable under RIDDOR, but all reportable incidents should be documented internally.

Enforcement and Legal Consequences

Failure to comply with RIDDOR requirements can lead to:

• Criminal prosecution under health and safety law
• Unlimited fines for organisations
• Director or manager liability in serious cases
• Enforcement notices from HSE
• Increased liability in civil injury claims

In practice, non-reporting can also negatively affect defence in compensation claims, as it may suggest inadequate safety management.

Common Reporting Errors

Frequent compliance issues include:

• Not recognising a reportable injury (especially over-seven-day injuries)
• Delayed reporting beyond legal time limits
• Misclassifying “hospital attendance” as non-reportable when treatment was given
• Failure to report occupational diseases linked to work exposure
• Assuming contractors are responsible when employer duty applies

Practical Example

A warehouse worker suffers a fall from a ladder and fractures their wrist.

This would likely be reportable because:

• It is a work-related accident
• It involves a specified injury (fracture)
• It meets RIDDOR reporting thresholds

The employer must:

• Record the incident internally
• Report it to HSE via the RIDDOR system without delay
• Review risk assessments to prevent recurrence

Employee Rights and Whistleblowing

Employees who report health and safety concerns, including failures to comply with RIDDOR, may be protected under UK whistleblowing legislation.

This means:

• Protection from dismissal or detriment
• Ability to raise concerns with HSE
• Legal remedies if penalised for reporting

Key Takeaways

RIDDOR reporting requirements impose a legal duty on employers and responsible persons to report specific workplace deaths, serious injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE. Reporting is required only for defined categories but must be carried out promptly and accurately. Failure to comply is a criminal offence and can lead to significant legal and financial consequences. Proper understanding of thresholds, time limits, and reporting duties is essential for lawful workplace safety management.