What must be reported under RIDDOR?
Updated · UK law and HSE guidance
Short answer
RIDDOR requires responsible persons to report specified work-related deaths and injuries, over-seven-day worker incapacitation, certain diagnosed occupational diseases, specified dangerous occurrences and defined gas incidents. Over-seven-day injuries must be reported within 15 days; deaths, specified injuries and dangerous occurrences require notification without delay and a report within 10 days.
| Over-7-day calculation | More than 7 consecutive days, excluding the accident day |
|---|---|
| Over-7-day report deadline | Within 15 days of the accident |
| Death/specified injury/dangerous occurrence | Notify without delay; report within 10 days |
| Over-3-day injury | Record, but not report solely on that basis |
| Records | Keep reportable injury, disease and dangerous-occurrence records |
Reportable injury events
An accident must be work-related and cause a reportable outcome. Report work-related deaths, specified injuries to workers and worker incapacity for more than seven consecutive days. The seven days exclude the accident day but include weekends and rest days. A non-worker injured in a work-related accident is reportable where taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment, subject to the Regulations' conditions.
- Specified injuries include most fractures except fingers, thumbs and toes
- Specified outcomes include listed amputations, serious burns and certain losses of consciousness
- Over-three-day incapacity must be recorded even when it is not reportable
Diseases and dangerous occurrences
Certain occupational diseases are reportable when a doctor diagnoses them and the worker's job involves the corresponding activity. Examples include specified conditions linked to vibration, occupational asthma and certain occupational cancers. Dangerous occurrences are defined near misses with high potential for serious harm and are reportable only when they match a category in Schedule 2, not simply because an event felt dangerous.
- Use HSE's detailed category guidance rather than guessing
- Report relevant occupational disease after written medical notification
- Defined gas incidents have separate reporting duties
Who reports and what to keep
The responsible person is usually the employer for workers, or the person in control of premises for incidents involving non-workers or dangerous occurrences. Submit through the appropriate HSE route and retain the reference or required details: reporting method and date, event date, time and place, people involved and a brief description. Reporting is separate from notifying an insurer. SitePaper can support the underlying incident and risk-assessment records.
- Report within the applicable deadline
- Preserve enough evidence to investigate causes
- Review controls after the event without waiting for enforcement contact
Sources
- HSE: Types of reportable incidents
- HSE: When to report an incident
- HSE: RIDDOR key definitions
- HSE: Records to keep under RIDDOR
This guide summarises UK law and HSE guidance for small businesses. It is not legal advice; check the sources and your own circumstances.