What Does RIDDOR Stand For?

Although you might not think it, every workplace carries some degree of risk, and accidents can be far more common – and often more serious – than you’d expect. In fact, according to recent data collected by the Labour Force Survey, around 604,000 people sustained an injury at work in the last year alone. 

These worrying figures demonstrate just how important it is that all workplaces have the correct safety measures in place, as well as clear procedures for reporting incidents as and when they happen. That’s where RIDDOR comes in. 

You’ve probably heard this term mentioned in passing before, but you might be unsure of what RIDDOR actually is, or indeed what it stands for. Luckily, the team at Healthier Workforce is here to help with this handy guide.

What does RIDDOR stand for?

RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. However, as this is a bit of a mouthful to be reciting every time, it’s more commonly known by its acronym. 

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR is a piece of health and safety legislation that requires employers, managers and the self-employed to report and record a range of workplace incidents, including:

• Work-related fatalities
• Work-related injuries that result in significant harm or time off work
• Diagnosed cases of reportable occupational diseases, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational asthma, HAVS and more
• Injuries to non-employees and members of the public
• Any event classed as a dangerous occurrence, like a near miss that had the potential to cause serious injury

Essentially, these regulations lead to a safer working environment for everyone by holding employers accountable. They ensure that every incident is properly reported and investigated, ultimately preventing more serious accidents in the future.

When was RIDDOR introduced?

RIDDOR first came into effect in April 1986, to replace the previous Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR) 1980. This legislation was updated again in 1995, before the most recent version was introduced in 2013. The main difference between these earlier regulations and the ones we use today is that the current version simplifies reporting requirements to reduce unnecessary paperwork.

Who is responsible for reporting RIDDOR incidents?

The designated ‘responsible person’ has a legal duty to report RIDDOR incidents; this should never be left to the injured person or a member of the public. This will typically be whoever is in control of the workplace, such as:

• The employer: They must report any work-related incident involving their employees that meets RIDDOR criteria.
• Self-employed people: A self-employed person should report any work-related incident that affects themselves or other people around them.
• Managers or supervisors: If designated as a responsible person, those in charge of a site will have to report RIDDOR incidents that occur under their supervision.

Where to report RIDDOR incidents

All RIDDOR incidents must be reported to the relevant enforcing authority. In most cases, this will be the Health and Safety Executive (HSE); however, there are exceptions for certain industries. 

Ideally, you should report any RIDDOR incident as soon as it happens to prevent any further accidents and ensure a quick investigation. However, this won’t always be practical or possible, so the rules state that any injuries leaving an employee out of action for more than seven consecutive days must be reported within 15 days of the incident via the HSE website.

More serious incidents, like a fatality or a life-changing injury, must be reported immediately. In such cases, you should urgently notify the HSE via phone call; however, you must submit an online form within 10 days as well. To complete this form, you’ll need to describe the incident and provide details for you, the injured party and the workplace in question.

What should you do after a RIDDOR incident?

Once you’ve reported a RIDDOR incident, this isn’t your job done and dusted. You’ll also need to record the incident internally in an accident book or log system. These records should then be kept for a minimum of three years, although it’s often advised to keep them for longer for insurance purposes.

Then, you should mount a full internal investigation to uncover exactly what happened and why. This might involve interviewing staff members and inspecting the site and equipment. If you discover any hazards or faults, you’ll need to ensure these are fixed as quickly as possible and, if necessary, put new risk assessments, training and safety procedures in place.

It’s also a good idea to consult with a trusted occupational health provider, like Healthier Workforce, so that they can carry out a workplace assessment to review your practices, recommend ways to protect employee wellbeing and minimise the risk of another incident happening in the future.

What happens if you don’t comply with RIDDOR?

Complying with RIDDOR isn’t optional; it’s a legal requirement. Failure to follow these rules can lead to some serious consequences, such as:

• Fines: Depending on the severity of the offence, a court can impose a potentially unlimited fine on the responsible person.
• Prosecution: Not complying with RIDDOR means you’ve broken the law and therefore may be prosecuted.
• Insurance complications: Should an incident occur and proper procedures weren’t correctly followed, your insurance policy may be void and your insurer might refuse to pay out.
• Increased scrutiny: If you’re found to have ignored these rules, you’ll likely face more frequent inspections from the HSE in the future, so they can ensure your workplace is operating safely and within the law.
• Damage to reputation: Your credibility and reputation can take a serious hit if you fail to comply with RIDDOR. After all, why should customers trust your business if you flout the law and don’t protect your staff?
• Legal action: If an accident occurs and it turns out a previous similar incident wasn’t correctly documented and reported, you leave yourself open to legal action.
• Risk to safety: Most importantly, by failing to report RIDDOR incidents, you’re putting yourself and everyone else in your workplace at risk, as when accidents aren’t properly investigated and documented, they’re more likely to happen again.

Why is RIDDOR important?

Some people might view RIDDOR as a bit of a faff, bemoaning the extra paperwork it brings. However, it isn’t just a tick in a box and unnecessary red tape; there are numerous benefits to RIDDOR, including:

• It creates a safe working environment: By quickly reporting an incident, you reduce the likelihood of it happening and ensure that any hazards can be swiftly dealt with and the right precautions can be taken.
• It ensures accountability: Without RIDDOR in place, certain employers might shirk their duty of care and cut corners on health and safety. As RIDDOR makes reporting incidents a legal requirement, it holds employers accountable and ensures they face penalties for non-compliance.
• It can help to identify workplace hazards: When you report an incident, there will be an investigation. This can then pinpoint the exact reason why things went wrong and uncover hidden hazards – such as a faulty piece of machinery – that you might have otherwise been unaware of. This allows you to put corrective measures in place and stop the same thing happening again before a serious injury occurs.
• It provides accurate data: The data collected by RIDDOR goes to the HSE, who use it to track national trends, identify high-risk industries and shape health and safety policy.

How can Healthier Workforce help?

You don’t have to wait for an accident to highlight lapses in workplace safety. Here at Healthier Workforce, we offer a comprehensive range of occupational health services that are designed to ensure compliance and create a safe working environment. 

Our experienced team boasts an extensive knowledge of RIDDOR and can provide practical solutions to protect both you and your employees. This includes workplace assessments, where we will assess risk factors and produce an occupational health needs assessment aimed at addressing and preventing work-related injuries and conditions.

Following a RIDDOR incident, we can also perform an occupational health referral on the staff member(s) involved to assess their health and wellbeing and recommend any adjustments to support their recovery and a safe return to work.

Since 2009, we’ve been supporting businesses across the UK, providing personalised support that helps to reduce workplace injuries and create a healthier and more productive workforce. Want to know more? Contact us today to talk through your needs, or fill out our online referral form and we’ll get back to you.