What Is RIDDOR Training and When Does an Accident Need to Be Reported Under RIDDOR?
When an accident happens at work, employers need to know what to do next.
The incident may need to be recorded and investigated, but there is another important question to consider:
Does the accident need to be reported under RIDDOR?
Not every workplace accident is RIDDOR reportable. Understanding which incidents need reporting and when is an important part of workplace health and safety management.
In this guide, we explain what RIDDOR means, when an accident may become RIDDOR reportable and how RIDDOR training can improve workplace awareness.
When Is an Accident RIDDOR Reportable?
One of the first things to consider is whether the accident was work-related.
An accident may be considered work-related where factors such as the way the work was carried out, machinery or equipment used for work, or the condition of the workplace played a significant role.
Simply being injured while at work does not automatically make an accident RIDDOR reportable.
If the accident is work-related, the next step is to consider the resulting injury or outcome.
What Injuries Are Reportable Under RIDDOR?
Certain specified injuries to workers are reportable under RIDDOR.
These include:
- Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
- Amputations
- Permanent loss or reduction of sight
- Certain serious crush injuries
- Serious burns meeting the relevant criteria
- Scalping requiring hospital treatment
- Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
- Certain injuries arising from work in an enclosed space
Certain work-related fatalities are also reportable.
Understanding these categories is important because an injury being serious does not necessarily mean it automatically meets the RIDDOR reporting criteria.
What Is the RIDDOR Seven-Day Rule?
Another important part of RIDDOR is the over-seven-day rule.
Where a worker is unable to carry out their normal work duties for more than seven consecutive days as a result of a work-related accident, the injury may become RIDDOR reportable.
The day of the accident itself isn’t included when calculating the seven days, but weekends and rest days are.
The employee doesn’t necessarily have to be completely absent from work. If their injury prevents them from carrying out their normal duties, this can also count towards the period of incapacity.
This means employers may need to continue monitoring an employee following an accident rather than deciding whether it is RIDDOR reportable on the day it happens.
Improve Your Understanding of RIDDOR
Understanding workplace accident reporting can help those responsible for health and safety recognise when an incident may require further action.
Online Training Store offers a dedicated Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) Online Training Course, providing a flexible way to develop your RIDDOR knowledge.
What About Injuries Lasting More Than Three Days?
An injury that prevents an employee from carrying out their normal duties for more than three consecutive days isn’t automatically reportable under RIDDOR.
However, it should still be recorded.
If the period of incapacity goes on to exceed seven consecutive days, the incident may then become reportable.
This is another reason why employers should have suitable arrangements for recording and following up workplace accidents.
Does RIDDOR Only Cover Workplace Accidents?
No.
RIDDOR also covers certain occupational diseases where the relevant reporting requirements are met.
It also includes specified dangerous occurrences. These are particular serious incidents defined within RIDDOR that have the potential to cause significant harm, even where nobody is actually injured.
RIDDOR therefore covers more than simply deciding whether an employee’s injury needs to be reported.
Who Can Benefit From RIDDOR Training?
RIDDOR awareness can be particularly useful for people involved in workplace health and safety or accident reporting.
This could include:
- Employers and business owners
- Managers
- Supervisors
- Health and safety personnel
- HR teams
- Employees involved in accident reporting and record keeping
The appropriate level of training will depend on someone’s role and responsibilities.
Having people within the organisation who understand RIDDOR can support more effective accident reporting and health and safety management.
Why Is RIDDOR Awareness Important?
When an accident happens, businesses need to understand their responsibilities.
Failing to recognise a reportable incident could mean that the correct reporting process isn’t followed. Equally, assuming that every workplace injury is RIDDOR reportable can create unnecessary confusion.
RIDDOR awareness helps those involved in managing workplace incidents better understand the regulations and when reporting requirements may apply.
It is also important to remember that RIDDOR reporting and accident investigation are not the same thing.
An accident that isn’t RIDDOR reportable may still need to be investigated.
Businesses should consider what happened, why it happened, whether existing controls were effective and whether changes are required to prevent a similar incident.
