Accident reporting
This section provides information and advice about reporting an accident or a dangerous occurrence at a business or workplace.
For most businesses a reportable accident, dangerous occurrence or case of disease is a comparatively rare event.
However, employers, the self-employed and people in charge of work premises should be aware that when such an event happens, they have a duty to report it in accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR' 95).
It is important that these events are reported for the health and safety of workers in the Borough.
Information from reported accidents enables enforcing authorities to identify where and how risks arise, and to investigate accidents as considered appropriate.
When to act?
You must report all of the following:
Death or Major Injury
If there is an accident connected with work and your employee, or self-employed person working on your premises, is killed or suffers a major injury (including the result of physical violence); or a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital.Over three-day injury
If there is an accident connected with work (including an act of physical violence) and your employee, or self employed person working on your premises, suffers an over three day injury.
An over three-day injury is one which is not major but results in the injured person being away from work or unable to do their normal work for more than three days (including non-work days).A work related disease
If a doctor notifies you in writing that your employee suffers from a reportable work-related disease. A self employed person notified verbally by his/her doctor that they are suffering from a reportable work-related disease is obliged to report as well. A summary of the reportable diseases is given later.A dangerous occurrence
Who do I report to?
You must report the accident/incident/disease without delay to the Incident Contact Centre (ICC) based at Caerphilly:
The telephone service is available Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 17.00 and they will ask for brief details about your business, the injured person and the accident. 0845 300 9923 (charged at local call rate)
The fax number is 0845 300 9924 (any time)
By email: riddor@natbrit.com
By internet at www.riddor.gov.uk (any time)
By post: Incident Contact Centre, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG.
Alternatively you can report to your local HSE office or Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and within ten days you must follow this up with a completed accident report form (F2508 or F2508A for reportable disease). See below for information on how to obtain these forms.
What if I'm self-employed?
If you are working in someone else's premises and suffer either a major injury or an injury which means you cannot do your normal work for more than three days, then they will be responsible for reporting, so, where possible, you should make sure they know about it.
If you or a member of the public is injured while you are working on your own premises, or if there is a dangerous occurrence there, or if a doctor tells you you have a work-related disease or condition, then you need to report it.
However, as a self-employed person you don't need to notify immediately if you suffer a major injury on your own premises. Either you or someone acting for you should send in a report form within 10 days.
Keeping records
If you use the ICC internet or telephone service you may not have your own copy of the official reporting forms (F2508, F2508A). However, the requirement to keep a record of reported incidents for inspection by visiting officers still remains.
To help with this you will be sent a copy of your report and given the chance to correct any errors in it.
What are reportable major injuries?
- fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes;
- amputation;
- dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine;
- loss of sight (temporary or permanent)
- chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye;
- injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours;
- unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent;
- acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin;
- acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or its toxins or infected material.
What are reportable dangerous occurrences?
From the complete list, those most likely to be relevant in the local authority enforced sector include:-
- collapse, overturning or failure of load bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
- explosion, collapse or bursting of any closed vessel or associated pipework
- electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion
- unintended collapse of any building or structure under construction, alteration or demolition where over 5 tonnes of material falls; a wall or floor in a place of work; or any false-work
accidental release of any substance which may damage health
A full downloadable copy of the guidance to the regulations is available at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse31.pdf
Report an injury or dangerous occurrence using (F2508) www.hse.gov.uk/forms/incident/F2508.pdf
What are reportable diseases?
These include certain poisonings, some skin diseases such as occupational dermatitis, skin cancer, oil folliculitis/acne, lung diseases including occupational asthma, asbestosis and mesothelioma, certain infections (e.g. leptospirosis) and other conditions (e.g. occupational cancer, certain muscoloskeletal disorders).
A full downloadable copy of the guidance to the regulations is available at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse31.pdf
Report a case of disease form using F2508A www.hse.gov.uk/forms/incident/F2508a.pdf
Checklist for businesses
1. Have you/your line managers or supervisors (access to) written instructions or advice on RIDDOR 95?
2. Do you make all staff aware of the need to report work-related injuries, dangerous occurrences or cases of disease?
3. Do you know who to report injuries, dangerous occurrences, and cases of disease to?
4. Do you have a supply of the reportable injury etc. form (F2508)?
Useful Links
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
