Government finalises changes to RIDDOR

The Government has published Regulations that increase the period of incapacity that triggers the employer's duty to make a report to the enforcing authority following an accident at work. 

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 when a worker is unable to do his or her normal work for more than three consecutive days, where the injury was caused by an accident at work. Employers are required to make the report as soon as practicable and, in any event, within 10 days of the accident. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/199) make the following amendments:

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

Changes are also made to the records that employers are required to keep under reg.7. Where an accident at work causes an employee to be incapacitated for more than three consecutive days, the employer will be required to keep a record of: the date and time of the accident; the full name and occupation of the injured worker and the nature of his or her injury; the place where the accident happened; and a brief description of the circumstances in which the accident happened. 

The amendments come into force on 6 April 2012. 

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. On 28 November 2011, the Government announced that a simpler accident reporting regime will be in place by 2014. 

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 references section sets out the requirements.