6 April: Changes to RIDDOR come into force

The period of incapacity that triggers the employer's duty to make a report to the enforcing authority following an injury caused by an accident at work increases on 6 April 2012. 

Under reg.3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/3163), employers are required to report an injury to the relevant enforcing authority where a worker is unable to do his or her normal work where the injury was caused by an accident at work. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/199) make the following amendments to the employer's reporting obligations:

  • The period of incapacity before the employer is required to report an injury arising from an accident at work increases from more than three consecutive days to more than seven consecutive days. 
  • The period within which the employer is required to make the report increases from 10 to 15 days. 

The changes to employers' reporting requirements are made in the context of the Government's commitment to reducing the burden of health and safety regulations. 

Also

Record of reportable injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences Use this model form to record the details of any injury, disease or dangerous occurrence that has taken place and is required to be reported to the relevant health and safety enforcing authority. 

How to produce an accident report This step-by-step guide can be used to comply with the employer's reporting duties. 

Record-keeping - statutory requirements Employers are required by law to keep certain records relating to their workers and their business for specified periods. This table from the XpertHR quick reference section sets out the requirements.